Thanks to modern innovations, you can take a bath anytime you want, even during the winter season, without having to endure freezing water. If you’re one of the people who can’t stand going out without taking a shower first, you must invest in a hot water system. However, there are a few things to consider before you can purchase the necessary equipment and accessories. One is whether you’ll get storage water heaters or go for a tankless system. Tankless water heaters have units where cold water goes through and gets heated right before they’re delivered to your shower or faucets. This apparatus is also called on-demand or instant water heaters.
Here are the benefits of installing a tankless hot water system for your home:
Less Space
A primary advantage of tankless water heaters is that they’re more compact. Thus, they take up less space in your house. You can put the unit in cabinets or install it on the wall, as long as it has an anti-freeze kit. Nonetheless, you still have to determine how big of a tankless hot water heater you need. There are small units that can be placed near the point-of-use and more extensive equipment that can meet the hot water needs of your entire house. With this, you can think about size as pertaining to the water flow rate, which is typically measured in gallons per minute (GPM). You need to identify how much water each of your fixtures consumes, such as showerheads, washing machines, dishwashers, as well as bathroom and kitchen faucets, to get an idea of the right tankless water heater for you and your family.
More Efficient
Because this system no longer saves hot water through a tank for later use, each unit consumes less energy from heating water that won’t be consumed right away. You won’t have to worry about standby losses because they only boil water once you need it; the unit doesn’t reheat water repeatedly. Moreover, tankless water heaters waste less water. With traditional tank systems, you have to let the cold water out from the pipes first and throw it away before hot water can reach the faucets or showerheads. After this, you can finally take a bath or wash your hands.
Some tips to help your tankless water heater become even more efficient:
- Tweak the Temperature – Similar to air conditioners, lowering the thermostat can have positive results for your energy bill. Most heater units have a factory setting of 130 to 140°F, which is too hot for human skin. The ideal way is to change the temperature to 120°F, which is the recommended heat level by the Department of Energy.
- Buy the Right Size – You may think that going for smaller units may be more energy-efficient. However, you may end up paying higher utility costs if it continually heats water to cater to the needs of your household. It’s better to calculate the water consumption of your family and buy equipment that can keep up with you and your family’s demands.
- Watch Out for Sediment – Hard water has minerals that can affect your water heater’s efficiency by settling at the bottom of the unit and forming sediments. Check the owner’s manual on how you can prevent this common water heater problem.
Unlimited Hot Water
Another benefit of a tankless water heater is that you’ll never run out of hot water again because, as mentioned, it heats water as long as you need it. Thus, unlike traditional systems where you need to wait for a few minutes to replenish the water levels once it has been drained, you can enjoy unlimited hot water when you go for tankless units according to the capacity of your heater.
Longer Lifespan
This type of water heater has also been found to last longer than traditional systems. With proper use and maintenance, you can enjoy unlimited hot water for as long as 20 years with a tankless model, which is twice as long as storage water heaters.
No Flooding Risk
Moreover, you won’t have to concern yourself about the risk of flooding your basement because there won’t be any tanks to rupture. You can enjoy hot water all the time without worrying about the possibility of leaks from hot water storage.
Conclusion
A tankless hot water system consumes less space while ensuring higher efficiency that saves you money on your energy bill and water costs. Plus, you get to enjoy unlimited hot water for a longer period without thinking about the possibility of flooding your home.
