Tankless water heaters are gaining popularity as more people realize their advantages over hot water tanks. If you’re building a new home or replacing your existing water tank, a tankless water heater could be a perfect solution for your hot water needs. Here’s an overview.
How a tankless water heater operates
Tankless water heaters are also called on-demand or instantaneous water heaters. When you turn on a hot water faucet or dishwasher, cold water travels through the unit. Inside the unit is a heat exchanger with an electric element or a burner powered by natural gas or propane. This exchanger heats the water immediately as it flows through to your tap.
Whole-house units vs. point-of-use units
There are two types of tankless water heaters: whole-house units and point-of-use units. A whole-house unit supplies hot water to an entire home from a central location. A point-of-use unit is much smaller and provides water to one or two outlets, like a shower and bathroom sink.
Benefits of tankless water heaters
Tankless water heaters have many benefits over standard hot water tanks. Here are a few:
They’re more efficient. Tankless water heaters are more efficient than water tanks because they don’t waste energy heating water that’s not getting used.
You’ll enjoy limitless hot water. You’ll never run out of hot water because there’s no tank to refill.
You’ll save space. Tankless water heaters, especially point-of-use units, are much smaller than water tanks. You can install them in bathroom vanities or tuck them away under a staircase.
They last a long time. There are no tanks to rust or collect sediment, so tankless heaters typically last five to 10 years longer than hot water tanks.
Drawbacks of tankless water heaters
There’s one important drawback to tankless water heaters. Due to the water heater’s flow rate, you’re limited to the amount of hot water you can use simultaneously. Tankless water heaters can deliver 7.6 to 15.2 litres per minute, but that may not be enough to supply a shower and dishwasher at the same time. You may need more than one unit if you consume a lot of hot water.
Water heater installation and repair in Kitchener, Guelph and Woodstock
At Aire One Heating & Cooling, we carry hot water tank systems and tankless water heaters. We also provide water heater maintenance and repair services for homes and businesses in Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and Woodstock. Contact us today to get a quote for a new tankless water heater for your home or schedule a service appointment.