Tankless Water Heater: Reduces Competition for Hot Water
To understand a tankless point-of-need water heater, it’s good to compare it to the traditional alternative.
A traditional hot water tank is generally found in a house closet. The thermostat is set. Cold water heats to that temperature. Hot water is piped to the point of need, whether shower, sink, washing machine, or dishwasher. Water refills the tank and is heated by electricity or gas.
Drawbacks of a Hot Water Tank
It takes ongoing energy to keep the water hot in the tank. Water is used in the morning. It may be used throughout the day. In some homes, it is never needed again until evening. Then there’s dinner, the dishwasher, and nighttime baths or showers. It takes energy to keep the water hot all day until needed.
Besides all-day energy costs, there are other issues with hot water tanks. A hot water heater can rust over time. This leads to leaks and the need for the tank to be replaced. Or, sediment can develop. This leads to additional energy costs for heating the water.
What About a Tankless Water Heater?
Tankless water heaters are smaller. They fit in a small space, for example, under a sink. They give instant hot water at the point-of-need. There is no extra energy required to keep the water hot all day and all night since a tankless water system heats quickly on demand.
Tankless Water Heaters Reduce Hot Water Competition
It is possible to combine a current water tank system with a tankless water heater.
Here is an example. A home currently has a hot water tank. There are several users. There are many hot water draws at the same time.
The homeowner adds a new bedroom with its own bathroom. A tankless water heater is installed. That tankless water heater provides hot water at the point of need without any competition with prior users. It prevents the “water just got cold” problem when multiple hot water draws happen simultaneously.
Talk to the professionals at Signature Plumbing Company, to understand how a tankless water heater would work for your unique hot water needs.