Tankless Gas Water Heaters

_______________________________________________________________



_________________________________________________________________

What Are Tankless Gas Water Heaters?

We are all use to seeing the big round white tank in the basement or hideaway closet used to heat and store water for whenever we need it. It’s part of the mechanical devices that make modern living tolerable. Without a hot water tank, we’d be boiling water over a stove to take a hot bath. The alternative is of course a cold shower.

The hot water heater was invented in a time when energy was abundant and cheap. Finding ways to reduce the impact of this limited resource was the inspiration for discovering the process used today in tankless gas water heaters. Instead of keeping 40, 50 or even 100 gallons of water at a temperature of 125˚ F, the instant tankless water heater raises the temperature of tap water as needed – on demand. The savings in energy is obvious.

The units themselves take up far less space than a conventional hot water tank. In most cases only about 1/8^th the space required for a standard hot water heater. It turns on only when needed. A tankless water heater unit does not have the wear and tare either. A hot water heater will maintain the water at a sustained temperature far above ambient and this causes elements to burn out or in common cases, the tank begins to leak from metal fatigue or too much heat. Installation of a tankless gas water heater requires the services of a licensed plumber in most states. It is a similar process but the units themselves are more expensive than the traditional tank.

Instant Hot Water

This term, of course, is a misnomer.  Just like a standard water heater, the gas or electric tankless water heater takes time for the water to get from the unit to the faucet or shower head.  If it takes 30 seconds for the a standard water heater, it may take 40 seconds for the tankless version.  The difference is that the cold water coming through the system starts out cold rather than hot as in a standard tank.  To solve the instant hot water problem, adding units closer to the user means that the water has a shorter distance to travel and thus allows it to heat up faster.

Tankless Water Heater Maintenance

Like everything mechanical, water heaters do have a limited functional life.  Standard water heaters range from about 6 to 10 years depending upon the quality of the unit, the manufacturer and the use.  Instant water heaters, on the other hand, last more than twice as long and rarely does anything go wrong with them.  The amount of money saved in the cost of energy over the same period more than makes up for the higher purchase price and installation cost.

Inline Water Heater

Essentially the same as a tankless water heater, the inline system heats hot water very close to the outlet.  They are often used as a booster to commercial dishwashers or other areas that require very hot water.  Hospitals, schools, restaurants, manufacturing plants, bottlers and other commercial applications often use a variety of inline water heaters.  However, the homeowner can also use these for many uses through the property from dishwashing to cleaning the car.  Units vary in price, but begin under $200.

There are both pros and cons to everything, but in the long run, the tankless unit will be far more cost effective.