On Demand Water Heaters
Just think – no more running out of hot water in the middle of a shower, or having to wait for the water heater to recover. Endless hot water, and saving energy costs at the same time – your family will thank you and you’ll wonder why you didn’t get one before!
On Demand Water Heaters, also called Tankless, or Instantaneous Water Heaters are becoming more popular in North America as people are become more concerned about energy conservation. A typical water heater is a storage type unit where 40, 50 or even 60 gallons of water is heated up to the set temperature which could be 120-130 degrees F., and maintains that temperature 24/7 so that the user will have enough hot water for their daily needs. It costs money and energy to keep the water temperature hot all the time, even when we are not using the hot water, so there is a substantial stand by heat loss and energy used to maintain these temperatures. The On Demand Water Heater only heats up the amount of hot water that you need for that moment, and when you do not require any more hot water, it turns off and therefore saves you energy and money.
On Demand Water Heaters do not have any storage capacity, so they do not have a tank that holds the 40, 50, or 60 gallons, but in fact they have only a very small amount of water inside that flows thru a heating coil. When you need hot water and turn on the hot tap, the water heater senses the water flow and starts up the heater to heat the water as it flows thru the unit. The heating coil is designed to take the cold water that comes into the heater and then heat it up as it flows thru the heater, so that the outlet temperature is hot by the time it comes out of the water heater and flows to your faucet. The most common type of on demand water heater is the natural gas or propane fired units and when there is a demand for hot water, the gas flame comes on and very quickly provides hot water. In fact, it is essentially instantaneous, with the only actual delay at the faucet being the time for the hot water to flow thru your water piping from the heater to the faucet.
These units are also very energy efficient and can save you 30-50% of your hot water heating energy bill depending on what type of water heater you are replacing and your usage. The initial cost is higher than a conventional tank water heater, but you will recoup your investment in a few short years in savings. Although this technology is relatively new in North America, it has been in use in Europe for many years where the technology has been well proven.
If you are considering an On Demand Water Heater, it is essential that it be properly sized for your home and for the lifestyle of your family. These water heaters come in different sizes to accommodate various hot water needs and one of the most important aspects of proper sizing is to calculate the flow rate in gallons per minute of the fixtures that could be used at the same time. The water heater needs to have the capacity to heat up the amount of water that will be required, and a reputable contractor or dealer will be able to advise you on the most suitable size.More and more, homeowners are realizing the importance of energy conservation and are making purchasing and lifestyle decisions with this in mind.
On Demand Water Heaters will not only save you money in operating costs, but will provide your family with endless amounts of hot water – no more running out of hot water in the shower, or not having enough to fill your bathtub. Every day more homes are converting to On Demand Water Heaters for their families hot water needs and making their homes more energy efficient in the process. Review the additional information included on this website for more details.Tankless instantaneous water heaters save money and are more energy efficient than tank type water heaters. Click here to find out more.