Tankless, “OnDemand” Water Heaters
A large selection of modern, reliable ondemand water heaters are available at Plumber Surplus.
The newest lines of ondemand water heaters (also known as “tankless” water heaters because they do not utilize a traditional water storage tank) are becoming increasingly popular due to their efficiency, ease of installation, reliability and, of course, the promise of a never-ending supply of hot water. If you’re curious about installing an ondemand water heater in your new home or looking to replace an aging, traditional hot water tank, read on to learn the basics of tankless, ondemand systems and whether or not one would be the best choice for you.
How are tankless, ondemand systems different from a conventional water heater? Well, traditional heaters store hot water in an insulated tank which heated intermittently throughout the day (even when you’re not using hot water) to a specified temperature. This tank can never be perfectly insulated and so, heat from the water will dissipate over time thus the need to continually re-heat the water. This heat dissipation is called a “stand-by loss” and can account for 20% or more of the energy used by the water heater.
Tankless systems get most of their amazing efficiency by eliminating biggest waste of energy in a conventional heater, the stand-by loss. A tankless system will only heat water when it is called for (thus the name “ondemand”) and it stops the heating process the moment the water flow is stopped. This clever approach means that a tankless water heater eliminates the wasteful cycle of heating and cooling present in a conventional tank based water heater.
Just like traditional water heaters, there are two energy sources available to power your ondemand system; gas and electricity. There are many brands and models to choose from but the two most popular lines are the Stiebel Eltron Tempra series for electricity and the Bosch GWH-425-HN series of gas-powered tankless heaters. Both of these lines include small models capable of supplying a single bathroom, large models capable of supplying an entire four bedroom house and everything in between.
While tankless, ondemand heaters are much more efficient over time than traditional water heaters but they do use a lot of while they are running. Before electing to install a new unit, here are the two most important things to keep in mind.
- Electric tankless heaters will need a dedicated circuit (or more) and if you live in a home that was built before 1970, you may need to upgrade your entire electrical system before it’s safe to use an electric, ondemand water heater. Check with your installer or a qualified electrician to make sure your home can handle the power requirements.
- The same applies to gas powered tankless heaters. They require a substantial amount of gas while running and you may need to upgrade your supply line before it’s capable of powering your new ondemand water heater. Again, check with your installer or your gas company to ensure your home’s gas supply is sufficient.
So, when the appropriate model of tankless, ondemand water heater is properly installed in your home it can be the perfect solution for your hot water needs. However, do you research and consult with professionals before taking the plunge.
A large selection of modern, reliable ondemand water heaters are available at Plumber Surplus.
