If you haven’t had your home’s water heater upgraded in the last decade, you probably still have a conventional storage tank-type water heater. This means that your home’s water heating system operates by heating water in a 40 to 80 gallon storage tank 24/7 until it reaches the pre-set temperature, then sending that hot water to your fixtures when you open the hot water faucet. American homes have relied on this technology for over a hundred years now, and many old homes still have storage tank-type water heaters that were installed in the last few years.
But over in Europe, a new system is rapidly gaining popularity, and it has even spread to the Americas in recent years as more homeowners push to become more energy efficient. The new method is called “tankless water heating,” and it isn’t actually “new” at all: it’s been around for the past one hundred years as well, but it’s only now starting to get some major traction as a more cost-effective alternative. In a tankless water heating system, water isn’t stored: it is heated in a series of coils for on-demand hot water use.
What are the advantages of tankless water heating?
- Constant hot water on demand – Because tankless water heaters don’t actually store any water, they only wind up heating water when someone in your home asks for it. The result is that you never run out of hot water storage, as the hot water is perpetually being heated whenever you need it. No more cold showers!
- Lower Utility Bills – Tankless water heaters are the clear winner in terms of efficiency, using an average of 30% more heat towards the actual warmth of the end product.
- Space Saving – A typical storage tank-type water heater is very large and requires its own utility room. On the other hand, a tankless model is about the size of a carry-on suit case and can be mounted on nearly any wall.
- No Leaks – With storage tank type water heaters, even a minor leak can result in having your whole basement flooded if you don’t catch the problem in time! Tankless units cannot leak, and they have no storage tank to ever need replacing.
- Longer Lasting– The lifespan of a tankless unit is typically 5 to 10 years longer!
Call Central Plumbing, Heating, and Air today to learn more about tankless water heaters and see if one might be right for your home.