In today’s increasingly green society, people are always looking for ways not only to help the environment but also to save a buck in the process. The purpose behind creating energy efficient appliances is two-fold: save energy to help the planet and save money to help the wallet.
An increasingly popular way to meet both demands is by using tankless hot water heaters. These are also called flash heaters, instantaneous heaters, or on demand heaters. Unlike traditional hot water heaters, which store and continually heat and reheat water, tankless hot water heaters heat water on demand, only when it is needed and only at the direct site in which the hot water will be used. This reduces what is called standby heat loss.
Tankless hot water heaters are typically installed at various points of usage throughout a home or building. Because they only supply water to the needed area, they are able to provide a steady and continuous stream of hot water by heating the water as it flows. This in turn saves energy and thereby cuts down on heating expenses.
With traditional central hot water heaters, the water that is leftover in the pipes cools down and takes longer to reheat whereas tankless hot water heaters do not leave leftover water in the pipes. The absence of stored water also cuts the risk of water leakage and flooding caused by bursting pipes.
There are both point-of-use and whole house versions of tankless hot water heaters. It is important to consider which one is most useful and meets the current hot water usage needs of your home or building before purchase and installation. Both types use the same method of heating. Cold water enters the heating unit and is heated by a heating element that is turned on by a flow-activated switch.
When accurately sized and installed, tankless hot water heaters can save quite a bit of energy and money for any household.