Tankless Water HeatersAll About Tankless Water Heaters

I over heard a couple at a home improvement store asking a clerk why their 125 gal hot water tank wasn’t doing the job. The clerk tried to help them work through the possibilities but what was certain was it far exceeded their needs even if it was working right.

Rust, corrosion and deposits will, over time reduce the efficiency of a hot water tank. You get a hint of this the first time you have to turn the heat up a notch. It’s all part of the aging process, but hopefully, when the time comes, this will be last tank to go to the landfill. Instead, why not turn to the new technology that has been around for 50 years - tankless water heaters.

Tankless water heaters, a familiar sight in Europe and other places, have a reputation for energy efficiency, which translates into more money in your pocket and less strain on the environment.

If you are in the market for an upgrade do a little research of your own. Most websites have helpful information to make decision making easier.

Finding the right tankless hot water heater is simple to do. The rate of flow is determined by the difference between winter ground water temperature and what’s called for at the showerhead. Another factor is the more faucets running at one time the greater the flow, which means the higher energy use. Like this:

temperature rise x flow rate = energy

Energy is measured in British thermal units (Btu) for gas water heaters and kilowatt hours (KWH) or amps for electric. Manufacturer’s websites have tables to help you with this.

Basically there are three things to consider when picking the tankless unit right for your needs:

Energy rise

Faucets running simultaneously

Hours of hot water consumed per day

Since gas is the most efficient of the two energy sources, higher numbers in these three points above would recommend gas as the best choice. Remember propane is an alternative. Lower numbers makes electric units more competitive. Gas or electric, either will gain you energy savings.

Considering the three points mentioned, it is estimated that cost savings could be anywhere from 20 to 80 percent.

Gas tankless water heaters are more expensive to install. Most warranties require installation by a technician. Outdoor models could require protection against freezing with heating and draining devices, supplied by the manufacturer. Interior models should also be safe from sub freezing temperatures. They also require special venting - some with a combined fresh air pipe and exhaust system. A unit can usually be installed in a day.

Because electric power is more expensive than gas, these units are better suited for smaller jobs. Smaller meaning 2-3 people in a house in the southern half of the U.S. This is just a rough estimate of what is possible.

Whichever you choose, the result will be more energy savings and less pollution. Add to that a continuous stream of instant hot water. A tankless water heater means you can enjoy plentiful hot water and save.

Tankless electric water heaters are one of the two types of tankless water heaters, the other being tankless gas water heaters. A tankless water heater is a compact home appliance that provides hot water whenever needed without storing the water. Cost effectiveness, easy installation, energy efficiency, less maintenance, longer equipment life, and unlimited supply of hot water are the main advantages. Gas, propane, and electricity are the prime heat sources for tankless water heaters.

The tankless electric water heater usually has more than one heating element and these elements provide a high heat output. Tankless electric water heaters require less energy. Further, they do not store water and heat the water instantly as it flows through the unit.

Tankless electric water heaters are available in two different models: flow-controlled and thermostatic. The flow-controlled tankless electric water heaters are designed in such a way that they can be fed only with cold water. But, on the other hand, tankless electric water heaters with thermostat feature can be fed with both hot and cold water, and they keep the water temperature within a safe limit.

At present, a range of tankless electric water heaters coupled with the most sophisticated technology and state of the art features are available in the market. Some of them are Ariston Hot Water Heaters, PowerStar AE125 Electric Whole House Tankless providing up to 3.5 gallons per minute, and PowerStar AE12 – an electric tankless water heater with a sink and a thermostatic control. All these tankless electric water heaters are used both in commercial and residential settings. In a residential setting, they are well suited for kitchen sinks and laundry areas.

Disadvantages of tankless electric water heaters are that they require a lot of electric power. Further, they cannot produce high flow rates, which results in the failure to supply adequate water for simultaneous, multiple purposes.

Tankless gas water heaters, alternately known as demand water heaters or point of use water heaters, have become quite popular nowadays, due to their attractive features such as cost effectiveness, easy installation, flexibility, less maintenance, and an unlimited supply of hot water.

In the case of tankless water heaters fueled by gas such as propane, the supply of hot water depends on the size of the burner. The functioning of a tankless gas water heater is simple. When the faucet is turned on, the burner within the heater is automatically ignited and this heats the water instantaneously. The unit shuts down when the hot water tap is turned off. Tankless gas water heaters have larger capacities than electric models, and can supply water to two or more showers simultaneously. They are also used to produce hot water for a single point.

Tankless gas water heaters are more economical because the cost of gas is approximately one-third that of electricity. Tankless gas water heaters eliminate storage losses and work more efficiently than tankless electric water heaters. Tankless gas water heaters have wider applications, as they supply hot water at higher flow rates. Energy savings, endless supply of hot water, low operating cost, reduced risk of power problems, space savings and durability, and safety and assurance are the other advantages. Further, a tankless gas water heater has a life span of 10 to 15 years.

Regarding disadvantages, a tankless gas water heater is generally installed centrally and hence requires a direct vent or conventional flue to combust. The installation charge of a flue and gas piping is extremely high. The application of pilot lights in the appliance results in the wastage of a substantial amount of energy. Even though it has higher gallons output than an electric tankless heater, a tankless gas water heater is not suitable for large families. However, despite the few disadvantages, a tankless gas water heater is preferable to an electric one.

Choosing a tankless water heater can seem like an overwhelming task for those who are unfamiliar with the technologies available. Consumers must wade through numerous decisions including choosing between electric and gas units, deciding on a brand, and then choosing which model will work best for their application.

Choosing between gas and electric tankless water heaters will depend on a number of factors. The first and most obvious is whether you have the utility available in your home. If you have both gas and electric available you will need to compare the two power sources. The main perk of gas tankless water heaters is that they will often be able to provide you with a higher flow rate than electric units. Aside from this, electric tankless water heaters usually make the most sense as they are often cheaper to purchase, don’t require any venting, last about twice as long as gas tankless, and are more efficient.

Once you have decided on a power source for your tankless water heater your next step is to determine which brand you would prefer. There are numerous brands available on the market today, with more coming all the time. Important things to consider when choosing a brand are the reputation of the company, the warranty on the product, the and the features available. Thermostatic control, which is the ability of the tankless water heater to modulate power output and give a consistent temperature, is also important, especially for those people on wells.

Determining which model will work for your application requires a couple of steps. Tankless water heaters are based on flow rate and temperature rise. The first thing to do is to measure your incoming water temperature. Simply turn on a cold water faucet, wait until the water goes cold and take the temperature of the water. Most people shower at between 100 and 105 degrees. The difference between your incoming water temperature and 105 is the temperature rise that you will need.

To determine the flow rate that you will require, decide what you would like to have running at one time. If you think you might have two showers going at once, turn on both showers and time how long each one takes to fill a 1 gallon container. Sixty seconds, divided by the number of seconds it took to fill the container will give you the flow rate of that application in gallons per minute. If you had more than one application going, simply add the flow rates together to determine the maximum flow rate required.

Each model should have information on what temperature rise it can provide at different flow rates. This should allow you to easily determine which model is best for your application. If you are still having difficulty, simply contact the retailer and they should be able to assist you.

Choosing a tankless water heater can be overwhelming, but if you break it down into smaller steps it can greatly simplify the task. Choose the power source that will be best for you, then the brand, and finally the model.

When you have a tankless water heater in your home you are going to notice that you are saving money of your water bill and even the electric bill because you are not using as much water to take a shower and that means that you are not using the electric as much to heat of your water in the water tank.

That there would be a good way for many people to be able to cut back on some spending and be able to save some money over time for a vacation or a large purchase. With the tankless water heaters you will be able to not have a fear of someone in your home getting burnt because of the temperature that is coming out of the hot water faucet.

This is possible because you are going to be able to set the temperature to where you like to have it when you are in the shower without needing to have the cold water turned on. That would be a great benefit if you have some elder parents that live alone. Because you will be able to set the water temp in the tankless water heater so that you will not need to have a fear of them getting burnt when they are getting a shower in the morning. That is even a good idea for those that have smaller children in the home too. Because we all know how they like to turn on the hot water to play in it. With the tankless water heater you are not going to need to have the fear of them getting burnt either with the hot water that comes out.

If you are looking into up grading your hot water source, you are going to want to checkout all the different styles of tankless water heaters that are out there. That way you will be saving a little money in the long run. Plus you will notice that you are going to end up with more storage space because the tankless water heater is only about the size of a suitcase instead of a large object that is just taking up dead space in your basement, garage, or even your closet.

That would be a big advantage for the ones that like to keep a hold of a lot of different items that need to be stored all the time. If you get rid of the big water heater you will be able to store more items in its old space. So, checkout all the different tankless water heaters that are out there, so you will be able to choose one right for your home. And yes you are going to only need one for your home so that you do not need to worry about having to buy any more than what is needed.

If you’ve been looking for ways to save money, there is one option that you may not have considered, and that option is to install a tankless water heater.  Not only will you save money by virtue of a more efficient mechanism to heat your water, you’ll also save money on the cost of the tankless water heater itself.   The reason for this is due to the recent passage into law of the Economic Stimulus  Act of 2008.

Buried deep within the 1419 pages of dense legalese is a provision to increase the tax credits available to homeowners that improve their homes by installing environmentally friendly and efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products.   As far as tankless water heaters are concerned, the tax credit has been raised to 30% of the cost of the unit up to a limit of $1500.  This rebate applies to any gas (propane or natural gas), energy star rated tankless water heater that is installed between January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010.

There are a few caveats to this that you should pay attention to though.  The first is that the tankless water heater that you install must have a thermal efficiency that’s greater than 90%.   This shouldn’t be an issue if you buy an energy star rated gas fueled tankless water heater, since all of these units qualify for the rebate.

The unit you install must be installed in your primary place of residence for you to qualify for the rebate.  You can’t install it in a vacation home, guest house, or rental unit and receive the rebate.

One of the more important requirements is that you have a Manufacturer Certification Statement for the unit you install.  You’ll need to keep all the receipts that are related to the purchase and installation of your heater and this certificate.  These will be used to verify your eligibility  for the rebates at tax time.

So if you’d like to decrease your household expenses, improve the efficiency of your home, and help out the environment Installing a tankless water heater is a great way to start.  And with the available tax rebates, your initial costs just got a lot lower, while your payback got much shorter.

Heating water is a big drain on your energy bill and some producers of tankless heaters say that by switching it is possible to cut your energy costs in half. Tankless heaters are also called demand of instantaneous water heaters as they provide hot water only when it is needed.

Tankless units work by quickly heating water through a heat exchanger. A gas tankless water heater is actually much more efficient then a gas fired storage tank but the savings are actually not that great as you still use gas to heat the exchanger. Electric tankless devices can be used for outdoor sinks, remote BBQ, poolhouse, pool shower, hot tubs, remote bathrooms or as a booster for solar heating, dishwashers and sanitation.

Tankless water heaters have two different fuel requirements. It is possible to purchase a gas tankless water heater or an electric tankless heater. You need to endure that your house meets the requirements for whichever type of tankless unit you chose. An electric model will have different voltage; amperage and you will need it to be on its own circuit breaker. A gas model will require gas ventilation.

An important consideration is what you want the tankless water heater to do. Is it only require for one sink or do you want it to provide enough energy for your entire house. Some single point tankless models available include the Chronomite Instant Flow SR, Stiebel Eltron Point of Use, and Eemax Single Point. A flow controlled tankless water heater is good for two water fixtures, such as two sinks. A thermostatic tankless model boosts the water temperature for long pipes that may connect to your sanitation or dishwashers.

Some larger tankless heaters that can service your entire house and have multiple fixtures include the Eemax EX280T2T series Three, Stiebel Eltron Tempra, and Rheem Indoor Gas fired tankless water heater. There are even larger units that can also service outdoor areas as well as the entire house.

AS with many energy efficient products the upfront costs are high but the actual cost of running a tankless device is much less then a traditional heater system, so you will eventually break even. Tankless models require a few electrical outlets nearby to power the fan and electronics and if you have an older home you may need to upgrade your ventilation and gas pipes. Tankless units should also be flushed with vinegar once a year to break down any calcium build up. You may need additional filters depending on the type of water in your area.

There are some disadvantages to the units in that the temperature of the water is inconsistent. If you only need a trickle of warm water then there is a chance that the heat exchanger will not turn on and heat the water. It also takes some time to heat up, so tankless systems do not always provide immediate hot water. Since many tankless systems are electric you will not have hot water if the power fails.

These days, fuel costs are soaring, and people are worried about the environment. The old-fashion water heaters have the problem of having to heat and keep hot a large amount of water. Over time, that eats up a lot of energy, and that means raising your electric or gas bill. That is where electric tankless water heaters come in. They are also known as demand water heaters or instantaneous water heaters; they only provide hot water when it is needed. As a result, they use much less energy, which means saving you money, and they are much smaller than a conventional water heater.

Tankless water heaters are tankless because they heat the water each time you turn on the hot water tap. Thus they have no need of a storage tank, and do not lose heat. When you turn on the hot water, water flows into the unit, and is heated - either by an electric heater, or a gas one. Usually, the gas tankless water heaters produce hot water at a slightly higher rate then electric ones, but the latter has the virtue of versatility; you can put a small one in just about any room of your house. So, if you want to put a small tankless water heater in your kitchen - so you can get that single cup of coffee you need to start the day, you can install it right under a kitchen cabinet.

When looking to buy a tankless water heater, the type of fuel is the first thing you want to consider; electric or gas. When it comes to an electric model, you need to be aware of its voltage and amperage; and then check with an electrician to be sure your home can handle it. With a gas tankless water heater, you need to be sure you have the right type of gas - natural gas or propane, available before installing the unit. Also, the gas-types need to be vented, so keep that in mind when deciding where to install the unit.

Next, look at where you want to put the tankless water heaters in your home, and what sort of demand they are going to handle. A small unit under a kitchen cabinet can be fine for washing dishes, filling a cooking pot, or making coffee or tea. Now, if you want to heat all the water for your bathroom, that is going to require a still larger unit. If you are going to be servicing an entire home, apartment or condo, you will need a bigger heater. Normally, you figure out the size of the tankless water heater by counting up the number of fixtures in the room / house that will need hot water. Check with a plumber to get the gallons per minute for each fixture, and then they can help you calculate the total hot water demand.

Finally, you need to look at the application for your tankless water heater; that is, what does it need to do? Is it a Single Point Application - it provides hot water for just one fixture? Or, maybe you have a room that is very far from the main water heater, and the water tends to get pretty cold by the time it gets there. Well, then you can install a tankless water heater to serve as a booster. Of course, there is also the whole house type, which is rather self-explanatory.