Tank-less Water Heaters
If you contemplate on replacing your hot water heater with the new tank-less version, there are certain things you have to know first. So read on and be able to fully understand this version of a water heater also called as on-demand water heater:
Taking the Advantage
The usual hot water heaters are typically placed in the basement. They provide gallons of hot water at one time. For instance, a hot water tank with a capacity of eighty gallons can heat and provide enough water for the entire house for shower, running a dishwasher, and do tons of laundry simultaneously. While it seems a very capable system, the main disadvantage is the standby energy loss. This is obvious in traditional hot water heaters. It means that the moment the hot water supply is exhausted you are forced to wait about sixty minutes for the system to produce hot water again.
As for the tank-less version, it will only produce hot water when you need it. So when you turn on the faucet or plumbing fixture for hot water, the water is then heated on the sport as it flows through the capillary-like pipes which are heated by either electric coils or gas burner, depending on the system. So by bringing hot water close to where it’s needed, you are effectively reducing energy loss and at the same time increasing efficiency by fifty percent, compared to a conventional hot water tank system. For one, there is about $150 in annual savings for the typical household.
How About the Downside?
Even though the tank-less water heater is able to pump hot water all day long, it isn’t really designed to come up with a large amount of the same at once. The traditional tank heater can product seven to nine gallons of water per minute, which is enough to supply all the hot water needs. The tank-less water heater on the other hand can only produce two to five gallons of water per minute.
What’s the Cost?
Gas Fired – The gas fired version will cost around $1,500, inclusive of the purchase and installation. That is actually almost twice to that of the traditional gas water heater with a tank. The conventional type will be using a half-inch gas line while the tank-less water heater will need a three-quarter-inch pipe.
Electric – The electric model meanwhile is much cheaper. The cost for installation will only be about $400. However, it is the type of tank-less water heater that doesn’t qualify for a tax credit since it is less efficient compared to gas.
Finally, know that the Department of Energy recommends the use of a tank-less water heater because it is more efficient and does not use too much energy compared to the traditional type. This is especially true if you are using minimum amounts of hot water for daily use. So if you’re that type of user, it’s obviously much better to go for this tank-less water heaters. The benefits are certainly looking at the long term goal of saving more.
