You may be wondering what is a tankless water heater and how does it work? Well, tankless water heaters, otherwise known as on-demand water heaters offer hot water instantaneously. You don’t have to wait for the heater to store water in the water tank and heat it. You can get a supply of hot water at any time by using the tankless hot water heater.
In this article, we will go through the working process of the tankless water heaters. Also, we will discuss some of their major benefits and go through the factors to consider to pick the right option for your home.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?
A tankless water heater heats the water without any tank. Once you turn on the faucet for hot water at your home, the cold water will flow through the heat exchanger unit of the heater which will heat the water. In the tankless gas water heater, the unit heats the water with natural gas. If you are using a tankless water heater electric model, there will be an electric element that will heat the water. Generally, the electric tankless water heater offers a lower flow rate than the gas-powered models.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Water Heater?
Here are some of the benefits of having a water heater, especially the tankless models.
Consistent Temperature
With a tankless electric water heater, you can enjoy a consistent supply of hot water at your home. You don’t have to wait for the heater to collect and heat the water to a given temperature. You can get water at any instant to perform your daily activities.
Easy Cleaning
With a consistent hot water supply, you can clean your dishes, laundry, and other surfaces properly. It helps you to remove all the dirt, grease, and germs efficiently as compared to cold water.
Energy Saving Options
Modern water heaters come with energy-efficient options, like tankless systems or energy-saving modes. These features reduce the overall utility costs by heating the water on demand or using less energy to maintain the desired temperature.
How to Choose a Good Tankless Water Heater?
Here are some aspects that you need to consider to pick the best tankless water heater for your home.
- Overall water usage
You have to estimate your overall water usage at your home and pick the model that can fulfill your demand. Also, you have to decide the purpose of hot water as it will help you understand the temperature needs. For example, if you have a bathtub at your home, then you need a water heater that can offer a flow rate of 4 GPM at a temperature of 102 degrees.
However, if you take showers then you need a water heater that offers a flow rate of 2.0 to 3 GPR at 104 degrees. So, it is necessary to understand the purpose of hot water and the overall water usage in your home to pick the right model.
- Fuel type
The tankless water heater comes in two different variants of fuel types. There are electric-powered units and gas-powered units. The gas-powered tankless heaters offer a better flow rate than the electric ones. However, the electric ones are easier to install and offer better energy efficiency.
In the gas-powered units, you can either opt for natural gas or propane variants. The natural gas variant is suitable when you have a dedicated line of natural gas at your home. Otherwise, you can go for the propane variant.
- Cost
You have to factor in the tankless water heater cost before you pick any model. Besides the upfront cost, you have to add additional costs, like installation charges, regular maintenance charges, and costs of other modifications you need for the heater. Just make sure that the entire cost comes in your decided budget.
- Size
You have to consider the size of the unit before you pick any model. The heater would be able to fit in the designated space at your home without causing any hindrance or unnecessary hassle. Gas models require proper ventilation which increases the installation complexity while electric ones are easier to install.
- Condensing vs Non-condensing
When choosing a tankless water heater, you have to pick between condensing and non-condensing models. Condensing water heaters capture and reuse heat from exhaust gasses. This makes them more energy-efficient. Also, it leads to lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint. However, they have high upfront costs and require a condensate drain for proper installation.
The non-condensing models are simpler, less expensive, and don’t require a drain. However, they lose more heat through exhaust which may lead to higher energy costs over time.
