subject: An Introduction To Tankless Water Heaters [print this page] The traditional way to heat water is to hold a quantity of it in a tank, and to maintain it at an even temperature via either a gas flame or electrodes. But, maintaining a tank of hot water even when no one is using it may not seem very economical. Tankless water heaters, though, will only heat water when there's actually a need for it. Vendors say that these new units can save much on energy expenses. But, are they right for everyone? Let's look at some pros and cons.
These newfangled units use high-powered burners to heat water as it runs through. Independent testing has shown that they can indeed lower energy expenses. They're also smaller, and don't require as much space as the old-fashioned tank units. Also, many can be wall-mounted, and don't take up any floor space at all.
Several sizes are available, for swimming pools, point of service, or whole house. Another suggested way to use them is supplement a solar system, for those times when there's no sun.
It used to be, that the prices of these new units were quite a bit more than those of tank-type models. That would have made the new models a questionable value, because it would have taken way too long to have made up for the higher price in energy savings. (One independent test showed that it would take 22 years to recoup the savings for a model with a projected life of 20 years.)
However, in more recent years, the price differential seems to have narrowed. Certain brands are still fairly expensive, but prices of some others are becoming competitive with those of conventional tank-types.
When considering the prices for these units, the prospective buyer will also want to consider what it costs to install them. Due to the new high-powered burners, they will consume energy at a higher rate during the time that they're actually operating. So, for an electric model, you may need to upgrade to a heavier-gauge wiring. For a gas model, you may need to upgrade to a larger gas line. Also, for a gas model, you may need to either install a new vent or upgrade the old one.
Also, some studies have suggested that the new units may need more maintenance than the old ones, in order to prevent scale build-up. Anyone considering one of these may also want to consider installing a water softener system to help counter that.
So, could the new tankless water heaters be right for you? Using your favorite search engine, you can find what you need to know to help you decide.
