It never fails. You wake up late and end up being the last one to shower; a condition you instantly regret when nothing but cold water pours out of the shower head. If this sounds like a situation that you frequently run into, then consider having a tankless water heater installed.
A traditional water heater uses either an electric heating element or a gas burner to keep a tank full of water hot. While an ideal setup in theory, the problems starts when sudden intense usage drains the tank. It takes time to reheat the fresh water that pours into the tank which usually translates into a cold shower.
In contrast, a tankless water heater warms up water on the fly. Using a heat exchanger coil powered by electricity, gas or propane, water is instantly heated as it passes through the unit guaranteeing hot water every time you turn on the faucet. So even if you are the last one in the bathroom, you’ll still be able to enjoy a nice warm shower.
A tankless water heater can also provide long term energy savings. With a traditional boiler, the water in the tank gradually cools the longer it sits requiring the heater to constantly turn on and reheat the water to the desired temperature. A tankless water heater virtually eliminates this excess energy usage since water is heated only when the faucet is turned on.
Even thought a tankless water heater can be installed at each point of use in the home, such as bathrooms and kitchens, it can be expensive to take this route. A popular and more cost effective configuration is to have a tankless water heater installed in a central place in the house and then individual tankless water heaters for water faucets that are a distance from the main heating unit. In either configuration, since a tankless water heater can be mounted on or inside walls, you will gain the extra space that was once devoted to housing a traditional water heater.
If your current water heating system can’t keep up with your lifestyle, consider installing a tankless water heater. It could be the smartest investment in your home you will ever make.