How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work? On Demand Hot Water? How is that possible? There are various types of water heaters and some of them are more common than others. There is the conventional storage tank that is found in most homes and the heat pump that captures heat from the air or ground, among others. Most of these store the hot water so that it’s ready for you once you turn on the hot water faucet. A tankless water heater works differently because it provides instantaneous hot water. In other words, it creates hot water only when you need it. Let’s take a closer look. On-Demand Tankles water heaters are also called “on-demand water heaters”. As the name suggests, these provide the hot water only as needed. The most notable thing about these types of heaters is that they don’t produce as much standby energy loss. They are more energy-efficient than conventional models. Although the initial cost is higher, it saves you more money in the long run. How Do They Work? Instead of heating stored water ahead of time, a tankless water heater will heat the water directly without using a storage tank or container. In a manner of saying, it heats water as it flows. Once the hot water tap is turned on, the cold water travels through the pipe into the unit and depending on the model, either a gas burner or an electric heating element heats the water so that it comes out hot. This way, tankless heaters provide a constant supply of hot water. That means, you never run out as you might have experienced before when taking a shower after another person just did. There’s no waiting for the storage tank to fill up. Navien Tankless Hot Water Heater However, there are limits to its flow rate. Flow rate is the amount of water that needs to be heated at a time. A Navien can and will do 5.8 Gallons Per Minute at 85 degree temp rise. Equal to 3 showers at once. Gas models have higher flow rates than electric ones. Advantages As mentioned above, tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. Your energy savings can range from 27% to 50% when you use a tankless model instead of a conventional one. You can save an estimate of $100 or more per year according to Energy Star estimates. They cost more initially but they last longer and have low operating and energy costs. Most tankless water heaters can last for more than 20 years. Storage tank heaters only last 10 to 15 years. Tankless heaters have easily replaceable parts which could extend their life even longer. If anything malfunctions or gets broken, you can easily replace the part instead of installing an entirely new unit. Disadvantages There is some maintenance required. Tankless water heaters would need descaling at least once a year to ensure reliable operation. Just like your coffee maker, you need to descale the heater of minerals. If you’re installing an electric tankless model for a large home as a replacement for your old storage water heater, it might require an upgrade of your house’s electrical capacity which could be expensive. Again, higher initial cost but greater savings in the long run. As mentioned, the output of a tankless water heater limits the flow rate. Running hot water in the shower and in the dishwasher at the same time might stretch the heater to its limit. Assess your use of hot water in the household and the amount of water you need heated at a time to decide whether a tankless water heater is right for you. For More Info on: How does a Tankless Water Heater Work? See these links: https://home.howstuffworks.com/tankless-water-heater2.htm https://energy.gov/energysaver/tankless-or-demand-type-water-heaters Water Heaters Now is an certified Navien Tankless Hot Water Heater Installer. Photo Credit: http://us.navien.com/__DATA/Tech/2015/12/20/Ncb_E_thumbnail_s.jpg The post How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work? appeared first on Water Heaters Now | Same Day Hot Water Heater Replacement Minneapolis, St Paul, Metro.