There has been much talk lately about tankless “on-demand” water heaters as opposed to the conventional tank water heaters most of us are used to. Here’s a brief discussion of the pros and cons of tankless water heater systems.
Tankless water heaters utilize high powered burners to quickly heat water as it is required throughout your home. This is unlike conventional water heaters, which constantly heat water in a tank and deliver that water to your sink or shower when needed. We can all see the obvious inefficiency associated with constantly heating water regardless of its usage.
Since our water heaters account for nearly 25% of our home energy expense, the tankless systems provide a significant monthly savings to homeowners. But there is a catch. First, tankless water heaters are far more expensive than conventional systems, some are more than twice as expensive.
Second, many homeowners are used to immediate hot water provided by tank systems fitted with recirculating pumps. This type of system constantly heats the water in the pipes and provides the user with immediate hot water when the shower or sink is turned on. Tankless systems provide on-demand hot water, meaning that they only heat the water when needed. However, depending on the location of the tankless system, the user may have to wait for the cooler water to clear from the pipes before the hot water arrives.
Sterling Custom Homes has been counseling customers on the benefits and drawbacks of each system. In many instances the tankless system is beneficial. Understanding the needs of the end user and the ability to locate the systems nearer to the most important areas of the home for that customers specific needs will usually dictate which system is right for them.
