If you’ve ever run out of hot water before the end of a shower, you understand just how important it is to have a good water heater in your Amherst home. While traditional water heaters that store water in a tank do their job well, there is a better option for homeowners looking for the ultimate hot-water experience. A tankless water heater provides hot water at a fraction of the energy cost of a tank-style water heater. To better understand tankless water heaters, check out this beginner’s guide from your friends at Heatwave Heating & Cooling.
No Onboard Storage
As the name suggests, a tankless water heater has no onboard storage for hot water. Instead, a tankless water heater uses a specialized heating coil to increase the temperature of the water as it flows through the coil, taking it from cold to hot in a very short time. While some tankless water heaters have a small standby storage capacity of one or two gallons, most tankless water heaters only have water in them during the heating process. This approach to heating water means that you can enjoy an essentially endless supply of hot water.
Low Standby Energy Use
Since a tankless water heater only heats water when you’re using it, you can expect very little standby energy use when you install a tankless water heater. This means that, overall, your home’s energy use will decrease dramatically compared to what you use with a tank-type water heater. In some cases, it may take a little longer for hot water from a tankless water heater to reach your faucet, meaning your water bill may be slightly higher. However, Heatwave Heating & Cooling can install solutions to prevent this waiting period so that you get the benefits of both low energy usage and low water usage.
Higher Energy Input During Operation
While a tankless unit uses far less energy than a tank-type unit when you’re not using hot water, a tankless unit far exceeds the energy draw of a tank-type unit when there’s a demand for hot water. This is because a tankless water heater has to increase the temperature of the incoming water by 60 to 70 degrees in just a few seconds. To accommodate this higher energy draw, you’ll need a larger gas line running to the tankless water heater to ensure it receives enough gas. Additionally, your tankless water heater will need to vent directly to the outside of your home since it will have more combustion products.
Compact Size
One major benefit of tankless water heaters is that they are smaller than tank-type water heaters. Therefore, if you’re tight on space in your utility area, a tankless water heater can give you the extra space you need to be able to easily access your water heater and HVAC system for easy maintenance. Plus, since a tankless water heater is installed higher off the ground than a tank-type water heater, it is much easier to spot leaks from a tankless water heater so that you can address them more quickly.
Long-lasting
Tankless water heaters tend to be more expensive upfront than tank-type water heaters. However, tankless water heaters can also last far longer than tank-type heaters, meaning that you ultimately save money over the life span of the unit. Tankless heaters last longer because they don’t hold water when they’re not in use, and this means the minerals present in the water can’t damage the tank like they can in a tank-type water heater. Plus, tankless water heaters tend to be constructed more robustly because they need to be able to withstand more intense forces during the water heating process. To ensure that your water heater lasts as long as possible, Heatwave Heating & Cooling recommends having it maintained every year.
Your Water Heater Experts
At Heatwave Heating & Cooling, we take pride in providing our customers with hot water that they can use to take showers, wash dishes, and more. That’s why we install, repair, and maintain tankless water heaters. For extra comfort, we also install, repair and maintain your heating and cooling systems, as well as clean ducts and install air purification systems. Plus, we can install ductless systems to provide indoor comfort in any type of building. With over 15 years in business, you can be sure that we’ll always go the extra mile to exceed your expectations. That’s one reason why we’re able to maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and why we consistently receive five-star customer reviews. To learn more about tankless water heaters, contact us at Heatwave Heating & Cooling today.
