How do tankless water heaters save energy

Tankless water heaters tend to last longer than storage heaters: 20 to 25 years in many cases. So they can eventually deliver on that savings.

But that's a long wait for little net savings. That's not to say that tankless water heaters are a bad idea. Their greater efficiency may be good for the environment. And they offer several potential performance benefits for your home.

First, as we mentioned above, tankless water heaters generally last longer, often twice as long. A typical storage water heater may be under warranty for 6 years and last for 8 to 12 years. Tankless water heaters may be warrantied for 10 years and last for 20 to 25 years. Also, most parts in a tankless water heater are replaceable. Problems that might end the life of a storage water heater may need only a repair job on a tankless heater. With an important exception, tankless water heaters put an end to running out of hot water.

Your family can take hot showers all day long and never once run out or have to wait while the water heater heats another batch. For large or busy families, this can be a game changer in your morning and evening routines. The exception has to do with flow rate. Tankless water heat water almost instantly, but only up to a certain volume of water per minute.

Depending on the size and model, typical flow rates vary from 2 to 5 gallons per minute. With some whole-house tankless water heaters, running your dishwasher, washing machine, and a hot shower all at the same time may exceed that flow rate, leaving you temporarily without enough hot water.

As soon as the demand goes back below the maximum flow rate -- say when the washing machine has finished filling its tub -- you'll immediately have enough hot water again. Most families find it easy to adapt to the flow rate limitations, and they enjoy the endless supply.

You can also calculate your expected energy cost for an electric or gas water heater. Just like the purchase price, installation costs vary widely, including where you're located. Installing a point-of-use tankless water heater will be the cheapest, followed by storage tank water heaters and then whole-house tankless heaters.

Some homeowners can take a DIY route with storage tank water heaters and save on the installation costs. For tankless water heaters, it's best to leave it to a professional, as the setup is more complicated.

If you choose the right capacity for your storage tank water heater, you should not run out of hot water. This is one reason the storage tank outshines the tankless water heater. If you often run the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time, a tankless water heater might struggle to keep up with demand.

However, this can be resolved by installing more than one tankless water heater to keep up with your household demands or installing a point-of-use model where the water is being used. Use the calculators linked above to determine your needs, which can help determine the right size water heater for your home.

Tankless water heaters are an attractive alternative to storage tank water heaters for their energy efficiency. Standby heat loss is a big factor in higher energy costs and efficiency in storage tank water heaters, though purchasing an insulated unit can reduce heat loss.

When considering the life expectancy of each type of water heater, tankless heaters are expected to last longer. Estimates give storage tank water heaters about 10 to 15 years per unit, while tankless can last for 20 years or more.

One way to extend a storage water heater's life is to replace the anode rods , a component that helps slow rust and corrosion. The frequency depends on the type of heater and if there is hard or soft water in the home. In the battle of storage tank water heaters vs. However, you'll pay more to purchase and install the tankless water heater. Ultimately, if price is a concern, it's a good idea to use calculators to determine capacity needs and energy usage to find the break-even point for the higher initial cost of the tankless water heater compared to energy efficiency savings.

However, they cost a bit more than electric models. They also feature a temperature and pressure-release valve that opens when either temperature or pressure exceeds preset levels. Homeowners with on-demand tankless water heaters that use less than 41 gallons or less of hot water each day, enjoy between 24 and 34 percent more energy efficiency than storage tank water heaters. If you use lots of hot water daily around 86 gallons , you might enjoy energy efficiency of an additional 8 to 14 percent.

You may receive energy savings of 27 to 50 percent if you put on-demand water heaters at all hot water outlets in your home. Since there are no perfect products tankless water heaters are no exceptions , there are good points and downsides to on-demand water heaters, too. But, if you are on a fixed modest income, a storage tank water heater might make more sense for you. Discuss the two types of water heaters with your plumber to weigh your options.

Why wait? Petro professionals will give you the objective information you need to make the right choice for you and your family.