Instant Hot Water & Energy Savings
September 10, 2009
Next to heating and cooling, heating water is the highest energy user in your home. On average, households will spend $400-600 per year on heating water. New technology enables homes to have instant hot water and decrease water heating costs by up to 50% by installing a Tankless Water Heater.
Differences between Traditional and Tankless Water Heaters
Traditional Water Heaters. This type of water heater will heat and reheat the same water. A traditional water heater will heat and store water in a tank, usually 40-50 gallons at a time. If the temperature of the water in the tank drops below a certain point the water heater will turn on and heat it up again. This means that even when you don’t need hot water (at night when you’re sleeping) your water heater is still working (using energy) to help maintain the temperature of the water.
Tankless Water Heaters. This type of water heater only heats water when it is needed. A tankless water heater does not use a tank to store water, but rather “flash” heats the water when needed and provides it to you instantly. This hot water by demand system avoids the standby heat losses associated with tank storage water heaters while providing you with an endless supply of water.
Benefits of a Tankless Water Heater
Save Money and Energy. With a traditional water heater you are paying to heat water 24 hours a day, even though you’re not using it all day. It consumes energy constantly in order to keep the water in the tank hot. A tankless water heater only heats the water you need – when you need it! Many tankless water heaters qualify for the Energy Star™ program and can save a typical family upwards of $100 per year on gas bills.
Endless Hot Water. A tankless water heater provides a continuous supply of hot water, even if you are the last one out of bed for a shower. The hot water is an endless supply and will be there when you need it with as much as you need.
Space Saving Design. Tankless water heaters are wall-mounted and do not take up any floor space. This saves you a whole closet’s worth of space!
Leave your worries behind! Tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of 20 years. This is much longer than a traditional water heater. And with a tankless water heater, you won’t have to worry about water damage from tank leakage anymore.
For more information about tankless water heaters, give us a call!