A tankless hot water heater is a popular option for households that need a constant supply of hot water with high energy efficiency. These water heaters offer hot water on demand and consume less energy than traditional water heaters that can store water. Moreover, a tankless water heater consumes less space than the traditional models as they don’t have any storage tanks.
In this article, we will learn more about tankless water heaters, their working process, and their benefits. Moreover, we will go through different types of water heaters. So, let’s get started.
What Is A Tankless Water Heater?
A tankless water heater or on-demand water heater provides hot water according to your custom needs. The best thing about tankless water heaters is that there is no standby energy loss like the conventional water heaters with storage tanks. So, they consume less energy and reduce the overall energy bills which allows you to save money in the long run.
There are two main types of tankless water heaters namely, a gas tankless water heater and an electric tankless water heater. Both can offer hot water on demand for any purpose you want in your office or home. Pick the best tankless water heater according to your budget and personal needs.
How Does A Water Heater Work?
The tankless water heater heats the cold water instantaneously without storing any water in the tank. When you turn on the faucet, the cold water flows through the heat exchanger unit of the heater that heats the cold water.
A tankless electric water heater uses an electric element to heat the cold water. On the other hand, a tankless gas water heater uses natural gas to heat the water. These tankless water heaters offer a constant supply of hot water. You don’t have to wait for the storage tank to fill up and get heated.
However, the output of these heaters limits the overall flow rate of hot water. A gas-powered tankless heater can produce a better flow rate than an electric one but it cannot fulfil hot water needs for multiple purposes at the same time.
What Are The Benefits Of Having A Tankless Water Heater?
Here are some of the top benefits of using a tankless water heater.
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Compact design
One of the best advantages of using a tankless water heater electric model is that you can fit it in compact spaces. There is no tank so the heater is small in size. Also, you can mount them on the wall which further clears the floor space which is highly beneficial for small houses and apartments.
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A great option for larger families
There is no tank in the tankless water heater so you can enjoy a constant supply of hot water at any instant. This is perfect for large families that have high water demands. The traditional water heaters with storage tanks run out of hot water and you have to wait for the heater to store water and heat it.
The tankless water heater offers hot water on demand for the required amount of time without any wait. You can even install multiple units to further facilitate your needs in the house.
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Lower utility bills
The tankless water heaters are more energy-efficient than the traditional heaters with storage tanks. They heat the water when it is required and remove the standby heat loss. They don’t need to maintain a tank of hot water and offer hot water on demand. This allows them to consume less energy and lower the overall energy bill for any household.
What Are The Different Kinds Of Water Heaters?
Here are different types of water heaters that can offer a hot water supply.
- Tankless Water Heaters
This type of water heater is also known as on-demand or instantaneous heaters. These units heat water directly as it flows through their system. The best thing about these heaters is that they offer an endless supply of hot water. They are highly energy-efficient and add less stress to the overall utility bill of your household. Also, they come in smaller sizes which saves space as they don’t need a storage tank.
- Water Heaters with storage tank
The traditional tank-style heaters store a large volume of water in their tank and then heat it. They continuously maintain the water temperature in the tank so that you can get a ready supply of hot water. They offer a better flow rate than tankless water heaters. However, they consume a higher amount of energy due to standby heat loss.
- Solar water heaters
These heaters use the power of solar panels to capture sunlight and convert it to heat water. They can easily help you lower the overall energy bill as they use sunlight as the source to heat the water. They are safe for the environment but come with high initial investments.
- Hybrid water heaters
The hybrid heaters use a heat pump to draw heat from air and ground to heat the water. They don’t rely on any fuel source to heat the water which reduces their overall power consumption. They are equipped with a heat pump and a large storage tank so they take up a lot of space.
- Condensing water heaters
These heaters take advantage of the secondary heat exchanger to capture and reuse exhaust gases. These systems are best for households that use natural gas as a primary source for heating and cooking. They lower the overall utility bill as they rely on waste gas but cost more than traditional water heaters.
