Save Money, Space And Worry With A Tankless Water Heater

October 25th, 2012 Posted in Tankless Water Heaters
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The new kid on the block in water heaters is blowing the old tank models out the door. These new tankless water heaters have it all: design, efficiency and longevity. If it is time to replace your old water heater, you need to consider the benefits of upgrading to a new tankless variety before saddling your family with a tank again.

 

  • Save money. Everyone likes the idea of saving money on utility bills. Tankless water heaters save on energy by only heating water when you need it. Standard tank heaters constantly are heating the water stored, using energy 24/7 regardless whether anyone is using it or not.

 

  • Efficiency. Since these heaters do not store hot water but heat it when needed, there will be no more forced coldwater showers or laundry loads. Even with large families taking several showers, everyone gets to be warm!

 

  • Design. Without the large tank, these smaller heaters can fit almost anywhere and are often wall mounted. There are even models that can be installed outdoors. Free up that corner in your closet, garage or basement from the bulky old tank.

 

  • Worry. Most tankless water heaters are designed to last 20 years, outliving their bigger, energy-guzzling predecessors. No tank also means less chance of a major water leak and damages that are much too common in tank heaters. No worries there!

 

There really is no reason not to switch to a tankless design for your next water heater. With monthly savings, more hot water and increased space and efficiency, why would you choose anything else?

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Save Money With a Tankless Water Heater

July 18th, 2012 Posted in Tankless Water Heaters
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Most advertisements for tankless water heaters focus on the joys  of having an endless supply of hot water.  Tankless water heaters heat water as it is needed instead of keeping a large tank of water hot like a standard storage type water heater.

Since tankless water heaters can heat water on demand, they can provide as much hot water as you want as long as you don’t place too large of a demand on the water heater.  Depending on the size of the water heater, it may be able to keep up with two showers or a shower and the dishwasher, but if you try washing dishes while two separate showers are going, you may hear some complaints.

While it is great to be able to take a long shower without being concerned about running out of water, one of the greatest advantages of a tankless water heater is the energy savings.  A standard storage type water heater wastes energy by keeping the full tank of water hot so it will be available when needed.  The problem is that most of the time, the hot water won’t be needed for hours such as overnight or while you and your family are away from home during the day.  The energy wasted keeping the tank of water hot when it is not needed is called “standby heat loss”.

By replacing your existing standard water heater with a tankless water heater, you can eliminate standby heat loss and save up to 30% on the energy you use for water heating.   Your actual savings will depend on many factors including the efficiency of your existing water heater and your hot water usage patterns, but the EPA estimates that an average family of four can save about $100 per year by switching to a tankless water heater.

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Demand Water Heaters Offer Convenience And Energy Savings

June 21st, 2012 Posted in Tankless Water Heaters
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If you are thinking about replacing your standard storage type water heater with a larger capacity unit because you frequently run out of hot water, consider having a demand or tankless water heater installed instead.  With a tankless water heater you never have to worry about running out of hot water and you save money on your energy bills by eliminating standby heat loss.

Standby heat loss is the main reason that storage type water heaters waste energy.   These water heaters keep a tank of water hot around the clock whether it is needed or not.  During periods of low demand such as at night or while you and your family are away at work or school, the water in the tank of a storage type water heater will lose heat and the water heater uses energy (gas or electricity) to keep the water heated to the desired temperature.

Then, during periods of high demand, a storage type water heater may not be able to keep up.  Once the hot water runs out, it takes a long time for the water heater to heat up a full tank of water.

A tankless water heater solves both of these problems.  It eliminates standby heat loss by only heating water when it is needed.  When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water flows into the demand water heater where it is heated and then flows to the tap.  This way, a tankless water heater delivers an endless supply of hot water as it is needed without wasting energy on keeping a tank of water hot.

Your local plumber can install a tankless water heater in your home to help you save money and energy for water heating and to ensure that you never run out of hot water again.

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Comparison of Water Heater Types

June 5th, 2012 Posted in Tankless Water Heaters
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If you are building a new home or replacing the water heater in your existing home, you have many options when it comes to the type of water heater.  Before deciding on a water heater, you will need to consider what type of water heater will best fit your needs by providing sufficient hot water while maximizing energy efficiency.

There are several different types of water heaters available.  The most common type is a conventional storage type water heater that heats water in a large tank and keeps it hot and ready for use when needed.  Conventional tank type water heaters have been around for decades, but they waste energy through standby heat loss. By keeping water hot 24 hours a day whether there is a demand for hot water or not, conventional storage water heaters are less efficient than demand water heaters (also called tankless water heaters).

Demand water heaters only heat water as it is needed which makes them more efficient than storage type water heaters.  However, they have other issues such as sizing to ensure that they are capable of meeting peak demand.  You have to be careful to choose a tankless water heater that can produce enough hot water to meet multiple demands such simultaneously supplying hot water for a shower, dishwasher and clothes washwer.

Heat pump water heaters are not as common, but they are an energy efficient way to heat water, especially when integrated with a heat pump system that provides heating and cooling for the home.  Air source heat pumps extract heat from the air while geothermal heat pumps extract heat from the ground.

Finally, solar water heaters use the free energy provided by the sun to heat water.  Depending on where your home is located, a solar water heater can be a cost effective, energy efficient way to heat water but they usually need to be used in conjunction with a backup water heating system.

 

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How to Size a Tankless Water Heater

June 5th, 2012 Posted in Tankless Water Heaters
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If you are considering installing a tankless water heater in your new home or replacing your existing conventional water heater with an energy efficient tankless water heater, you have probably been attracted by a combination of energy savings and the promise of “endless hot water.”  However, properly sizing a tankless water heater is important to take advantage of these attributes of tankless water heaters.  If your water heater is too small, you will end up with “endless lukewarm water.”  On the other hand, buying one that is too large is just a waste of money and reduces your savings.

To choose the correct size demand water heater, you need to know two three thing:  the temperature of the cold water as it enters your home, the temperature you need the hot water to reach, and your flow rate.  Flow rate is the maximum number of gallons of hot water you expect to use per minute.  For example, if you want to be able to take a shower at the same time you are doing laundry, add up the gallons of hot water used per minute by your washing machine and in your shower.

Once you have the flow rate, subtract the temperature of the cold water from the temperature desired for the hot water keeping in mind that the temperature of the cold water entering your home may vary throughout the year.  Use the lowest expected temperature. This calculation will give you the necessary temperature rise.

Look for a demand water heater that can provide the  necessary temperature rise at the desired flow rate.  By choosing an appropriately sized demand water heater, you can maximize energy efficiency without sacrificing performance.

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