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Tankless water heaters have been in the market for almost 40 years, yet they are only beginning to get the popularity that they deserve. Chances are you have heard of them, or atleast seen the TV commercial. If not, consider this your introduction to "on Demand" hot water heaters.
Tankless water heaters are a relatively new and efficient technology used to heat water. Traditional hot water heaters, have a disadvantage when it comes to operating, especially in cold climates. This is know as "standby heat loss". Basically a standard water heater looses heat through the walls of its tank. Every hot water heater is insulated against heat loss. Most of them contain a large copper water tank, surounded by fiberglass insulation. but the even the best insulation allow a few degrees each hour to escape. That shiny white metal surface you see is only part of a much more complex machine.
Water heaters have a thermostat which tells it when to turn on or off, thereby maintaining a constant temperature, which you set. And for this reason, it has to heat and reheat the water to maintain it at a constant temperature. This can go on while you're sleeping, while you're at work, or just not home. In effect you are paying to heat up water that your are not going to use until later. This means you are paying for heat that just escapes into the environment. (This waste of energy can also contribute to global warming.)
This is where tankless water heaters come in. In most cases tankless water heaters are compact, electric or gas powered, and Energy efficient. As opposed to standard water heaters, tankless systems only heat water as it is being used, or when the tap is turned on. Thus, they are called "On Demand" hot water heaters. Tankless water heaters can be very efficient, especially in cold climates, since they do not loose heat, sometimes up to 60% over regular models. |
