Energy and Other Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters, Part 1

Did you realize that in your home, your water heater is one of the single greatest users of energy? Trailing only your HVAC system, water heaters often account for up to 20% of a home’s energy usage – meaning many homeowners with oversized costs in utility areas will be looking for intelligent ways to reduce these costs.

At My Buddy the Plumber, our plumbers are happy to provide a wide range of services that help lower plumbing or utility bills, including tankless water heater solutions for those who want more efficient and lower-cost hot water. How does a tankless water heater work, and will it serve as an efficient investment for you based on your home’s hot water needs and other variables? This two-part blog will go over everything you should know when considering such an upgrade.

Explaining Tankless Water Heaters

Also often called an on-demand water heater in the plumbing world, the tankless water heater is the latest and greatest invention when it comes to efficient heating of water. As the name implies, the big difference between these and traditional heaters is the lack of a tank where water sits and is constantly kept at a hot temperature – most typical heaters will store between 60 and 100 gallons in these tanks.

Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, use a gas- or electric-powered unit that rests for most of the day, then kicks into action when you turn on the hot water. It heats water immediately as it’s flowing to the faucet in question, giving you instant hot water access while also limiting the energy required to keep water constantly ready to go in the tank.

Comparing Tankless Heater Types

As we noted above, there are two primary formats for tankless water heaters:

• Gas-powered: These utilize a gas-fired burner to heat your water. Gas-powered heaters tend to last the longest plus provide excellent safety, though they are less efficient than electric models.
• Electric: Electric tankless heaters use a distinct electrical component for heating, one that’s more efficient than the gas mode – but also uses significant amounts of electricity.

Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

Here are some of the primary reasons homeowners choose to upgrade to tankless water heaters:

• They often significantly lower energy bills
• They provide on-demand hot water rather than forcing you to wait for water to pump into faucets far away from the heating tank
• The installation footprint is much smaller than conventional water heaters
• Tankless water heaters last longer than traditional options
• Tankless options provide fewer flooding risks

For more on tankless water heaters and why you should install one in your home, or to learn about any of our other plumbing services, speak to the staff at My Buddy the Plumber today.