subject: Electric Tankless Water Heaters - The Basics [print this page] Electric Tankless Water Heaters - The Basics
The latest generation of tankless water heaters are becoming more and more desirable thanks to their cost effectiveness, easy installation, reliability and needless to say, the ability to supply an unending flow of hot water. If you are looking for a hot water solution for your new home or are replacing an aging standard hot water tank, read on to find out why a tankless heater could be the best option for you.
So what's so special about tankless water heaters? Well, traditional heaters which store a supply of hot water in a tank, can never be perfectly insulated and therefore lose heat over time. This dissipation of heat is called a "stand-by loss" and can account for 20% or more of the electricity used by the heater. Additionally, the water in the tank is heated to a higher temperature to offset these stand-by losses. And all of this happens even when you're not using any hot water.
Tankless water heaters gain most of their remarkable efficiency by eliminating the single largest failing of a traditional tank system, the stand-by loss. By only heating water when there is demand, a tankless heater stops the wasteful cycle of heating and cooling present in a conventional tank.
As with conventional tank heaters, there are two energy sources used to heat the water in a tankless system; gas and electricity. Stiebel Eltron, a German company, has been producing electric tankless water heaters for more than eighty years and is the world's foremost authority on the technology. The Tempra line of heaters is the company's latest and most advanced generation, with the Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 being the largest model, capable of heating all of the water needed for a typical three bathroom house - even in cold, northern climates.
Should you choose to purchase a Stiebel Eltron heater, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind.
While electric tankless water heaters are much more efficient over time than their traditional counterparts, while they are running they use a lot of power. Check with your installer to make sure your home's power supply can handle the load necessary for proper function.
The distance from the water heater to the various faucets in your house can have a significant impact on the perceived performance of your heater. If you have a large house it may be better to install smaller "point of use" heaters closer to where the hot water is needed. Again, check with your installer to make sure you're getting the best solution for your home.
When the appropriate model for your home is properly installed a Stiebel Eltron tankless water heater can be the perfect solution for your hot water needs and give you worry-free service for years to come.
