Tankless Vs. Gas Water Heater
In the age of eco-consciousness, technological advancements have been taking place at a faster rate than ever before. From compact-fluorescent lightbulbs to low-flow toilets, outdated appliances and products of all kinds are being replaced with newer, leaner versions. Water heaters are no exception. With new tankless technology, you can expect to cut your energy bills while enjoying endless hot water. Does this Spark an idea?
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Benefits
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Tankless water heaters come in two forms: gas and electric. Neither have a pilot light, which will instantly translate to about $8 of energy savings per month compared to traditional gas water heaters, according to energyexperts.org.
With no tank, the water heater doesn't have to heat hundreds of gallons of water at a time and hold the temperature. The water is simply heated as it's used. If there is no demand for hot water, the unit sits idle on the wall. This can cut energy usage up to 50 percent, says eemax.com. This also means an endless amount of hot water at any time. It never runs out, and it's never necessary to wait for the tank to fill.
Tankless units typically have a longer life expectancy than their traditional counterparts.
Considerations
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One low-voltage electric water heater would have a hard time keeping up in high-usage situations, such as filling the washing machine while doing the dishes. It is possible to install more than one tankless heater in different locations around the home or buy a more powerful unit, but the units typically cost more upfront than traditional gas water heaters.
If the water heater is going to be installed close to the point of use, installation, ventilation or connecting to a source of fuel may be an issue. However, this is less of a problem with "whole-house" type tankless water heaters.
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How It Works
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When a hot water tap or faucet is opened, cold water is fed into the tankless water heater's intake and passed through a zigzag or spiral-shaped pipe. In this pipe, the water is heated either by gas or electricity, depending on whether it's a gas or electric model. The heated water is then discharged from the water heater, out through the pipes to the faucet or appliance where it is needed. Once the tap is closed, the unit shuts off and remains on standby until it's needed again.
Traditional gas water heaters work by filling the tank entirely, heating the water with gas to the desired temperature. The units heat and reheat the water to hold the desired temperature until hot water is needed.
Types
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Tankless water heaters come in a variety of shapes and sizes, powered by either gas or electricity. Smaller models intended for a single point of use often run on electricity rather than gas. These models often require several water heaters to be installed around the home. Mid-sized models come in electric and gas versions, usually intended to have a single water heater for a small residence. Whole-house tankless water heaters are either gas or electric as well, and are used to cover the hot water demand for an entire household.
Ecological Factors
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Tankless water heaters use a fraction of the energy required for traditional gas water heaters. When installed close to the point of use, the amount of wasted water drops dramatically as wait times for hot water are reduced. Since tankless water heaters are smaller than traditional water heaters, they require less energy and materials to manufacture and transport. Combined with a longer life expectancy, this also means a drastic reduction in the amount of materials reaching landfills.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit plumbing image by Inger Anne Hulbækdal from Fotolia.com
