Explaining Energy Efficient Tankless Water Heaters

by Bob Willoughby,

It seems like there are many reasons for liking energy efficient tankless hot water heaters! This article will review the pros and cons, but of course, you have to make the final judgment as to whether or not they are for you.

For the most part, tankless water heaters have a longer life expectancy, save money, save energy, take up less space and have an endless supply of hot water.

Advantages

Life Expectancy

Make sure that you figure the tank’s life expectancy into your calculations. The life span for a standard hot water tank type heater will probably be in the 10 – 12 year range. Of course, there are factors that will change that, such as the quality of your water. The life expectancy of a energy efficient tankless water heater will possibly be 20 years. And there are some with a limited lifetime warranty.

Energy Savings

There seem to be many figures floating around as to the actual amount of savings. The energy efficient tankless water heater could be as much as 40% more energy efficient, depending upon who you talk to and your personal use habits. The conventional water heater keeps water at a constant temperature and is always reheating the water. The tankless, also known as “on demand” type of water heater, only heats water when it is called for. Just think of the savings if you went on vacation, or even if you didn’t normally use hot water for many hours.

Space Savings

The space savings are an additional benefit. Because they are mounted on the wall, tankless water heaters do not use any floor space, and they can be mounted closer to where the hot water is needed. This gives you a great deal more flexibility when choosing a location. You may also want to consider having more than one. For instance, if you had a remote area with minimal use, you could use a smaller unit. This would take some of the burden off of the main heater, and put the water closer to the point of use.

Hot Water

The endless supply of hot water is a big benefit for larger families. There’s nothing worse than being the one in the shower when the hot water is gone! And of course it seems like forever before there is hot water again.

Money Savings

There may also be a federal tax credit of $300. The unit would have to have an efficiency rating of .80 minimum to qualify. All units will not qualify. You can also check to see if you are eligible for any state or local incentives or rebates. Go to www.dsireusa.org to check.

So all of this sounds great. But are there any drawbacks?

Disadvantages

First, there’s your ground water temperature. If your ground water is very cold, because you live in the north, it may take a much bigger unit to do the job. The cooler water affects the flow rate.

Some units require a large discharge system. This may make it hard to deal with if you are installing in an older home or business. They are better suited to new construction.
There have been complaints of the time it takes to get hot water to where it is needed. Now I don’t know about you, but the only way that I get instant hot water is if it’s already been running. So you may have to wait anyway.

This is probably a job better left to the pros. Most water heaters will require licensed installers to keep you from voiding the warranty.

So how do you decide if energy efficient tankless water heaters are for you? You should contact an installer. He should have numerous questions about your use, location, ground water temperature, and what you are paying now. He should be able to review his figures with you and show you how he arrived at his conclusions.

Just remember that they are trying to sell units. Be sure that you’re satisfied with the dealer and the figures. It would probably be better for you if they sold both types. That way you could see the difference between a newer conventional water heater and the new energy efficient tankless water heaters!

This article was provided by EnergyEfficientHomeTips.net. Bob Willoughby is the publisher of EnergyEfficientHomeTips.net. There are many ways to make your home more energy efficient and save yourself some money at the same time. Visit the web site to learn more about Energy Efficient Tankless Water Heaters.

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