The average person does not know the difference between a water heater with a tank and one without, but Mission AC & Plumbing is here to set the record straight and give you helpful information about a tankless water heater. For starter’s a tankless water heater doesn’t produce the same energy losses that comes with storage water heaters which not only helps the environment, but also your wallet.
Tank or Tankless?
Like it says in the name, tankless water heaters do not have tanks. Cold water passes over a heating element, so it is delivered to your faucet at a nice hot temperature immediately. Because there is no tank, the water is virtually limitless, meaning you can take as long in the shower as you want. A traditional water heater may run out of hot water sooner, and the process to deliver heated water to your faucets is significantly longer.
Double the Fun
Tankless water heaters provide 2-5 gallons of hot water per minute, but sometimes this still is not enough to provide hot water for various uses in large households. Installing two or more tankless water heaters can greatly increase your hot water supply and avoid the risk of pushing one unit to its limit. There is also an option to install separate tankless water heaters for specific appliances that use hot water on a daily basis:
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Bathrooms
- Hot tubs
- Solar water heating systems
If you live in a household with a lot of people and you are running these appliances frequently, two tankless units are better than one.
Save The Planet With An Investment
Right off the bat, tankless water heaters can be up to 34% more energy efficient than the regular storage tank water heaters. The savings and energy efficiency increases even more if you install a tankless water heater for specific appliances listed above. Even though the initial cost of a tankless water heater is more expensive than a storage water heater, a tankless unit lasts longer (up to 20+ years) and tends to have lower operating and energy costs in the long run.
Storage heaters typically only last 10-15 years and require more maintenance due to the constant storage of water. Ensuring you have a pilot light in your unit that is able to be turned on and off between uses can greatly save energy while not in use. If you want the most energy efficient option then investing in a water heater with an intermittent ignition device (IID) which is basically a spark ignition device similar to those on ovens then it will turn on and off by itself.
Food For Thought
Before choosing to install a tankless water heater in your home, there are different factors to consider:
- Size
- Fuel type and availability
- Energy efficiency
- Costs
Once you are ready to install your new tankless water heater, rely on a professional for help to optimize its energy efficiency. Mission AC & Plumbing will ensure the installation includes proper fuel type, climate, local building code requirements and safety issues. Once we help you install your new water heater we highly suggest periodic maintenance to ensure it is running properly.
Give us a call today to schedule an appointment that can easily save you money and help you save the planet with your new water heater!
