Every home revolves around conveniences. They make our lives easier around the house. And as a homeowner, it’s important that you understand how your appliances work.Tankless water heaters have become a staple in many households due to their efficiency and space-saving design.
Unlike traditional models, which store and heat a large amount of water in a tank, a tankless water heater will warm water as it travels through the system.
However, while tankless water heaters provide several advantages, there are some factors that you need to consider before making the switch.
In this post, we’ll talk about how tankless water heaters work. We’ll also look into their pros and cons.
How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?
Before we get into how tankless heaters work, it’s important that you understand how traditional or tank-style water heaters operate.
A traditional heater continuously heats up the water contained in the tank to maintain a consistent supply of hot water. Now, the energy that such a heater uses to keep the water hot when it’s not in use is a standby loss.
But a tankless water heater is the opposite. Being an “on-demand” water heating system, a tankless water heater prevents standby loss by heating water only when you need it. And this is why it’s more energy-efficient than its traditional counterparts.
Plus, you don’t need to wait for the water to heat up, unlike traditional water heaters.
Tankless water heaters are available in both point-of-use heaters and whole-house heaters. Point-of-use systems are compact and provide hot water to only one or two outlets. Whole-house heaters, on the other hand, are larger but more expensive to run and can supply many outlets at once.
These units are also available in propane, electric, and natural gas models. The point-of-use systems mostly run on electricity while whole-house systems rely on propane and natural gas.
Now, let’s talk about how it works.
First, the Water Flows.
When you turn on your hot water faucet, cold water travels through the sensors in the system. This sensor will then trigger its internal computer and initiate the water-heating process.
The Sensor Monitors Water Flow.
The internal computer then determines how hot the burners should be, heating the water to the ideal temperature.
Automatically Ignites the Burner.
Tankless water heaters can come with either a gas burner or an electrical element. The internal computer then ignites the burner and starts heating the water. Then, the heated water circulates around the heat exchanger until it arrives at the desired temperature.
At this point, the heated water should flow through your pipes into your faucet.
Automatically Shuts When Not in Use.
This is where tankless heaters win over tank-type models. Once you’re done, the tankless water heater automatically shuts down. This mechanism allows you to save money on electric bills while still providing you with a consistent hot water supply.
Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
Are you planning to switch to a tankless water heater soon? Well, you need to first consider its pros and cons.
Pros:
Energy Efficiency
Tankless water heaters use less energy than tank-style ones. This is because they only heat water when you need it, rather than keeping a large tank of water constantly heated. They automatically shut down when not in use, which helps you save money on electric bills.
Constant Hot Water Supply
With a tankless water heater, you never have to worry about running out of hot water. As long as the unit’s size is tailored to your household’s needs, you’ll have an endless supply of hot water.
Convenient Control Panel
This is one of its convenience factors. Tankless water heaters feature a control panel that lets you adjust the settings. If you have a gas-powered heater, it allows you to fine-tune the amount of gas you’d want your unit to consume. For electric models, you can also limit the amount of energy consumption.
The control panel also lets you mix the value and water flow rate. But before you do, it’s best to ask for the help of a professional and avoid making any major adjustments to the settings.
Space Saving Design
Tankless water heaters are often smaller and more compact than traditional, large tank-style water heaters. These units take up less room and you can have them installed in more convenient locations in your home.
Long Lifespan
The typical lifespan of a tankless water heater is 10 years. They can even last up to 20 years with proper maintenance.
Cons:
System Overload
Water heater shutting down? You’re probably using multiple appliances at the same time. If your system can’t keep up with supplying your dishwasher and washing machine at the same time, it can shut down completely.
Blockages
It can be due to a variety of factors, including mineral buildup from hard water, debris or silt buildup in the pipes, or corrosion in the water lines. When this happens, it might cause the equipment to fail or stop working altogether. Regularly cleaning the unit should solve such an issue.
Ignition Failure
A tankless heater may sometimes fail to ignite the burner, especially on gas models. The common remedy is to check that the gas and water valves are not loose
Mineral Buildup
This problem is uncommon with tankless water heaters. But, it can happen, especially if not maintained properly. Descale the heating elements and drain the system to eliminate debris and accumulation.
Limited Hot Water Rate
This is because tankless water heaters are designed to be used on demand. As we’ve mentioned above, if you have to use multiple appliances that require hot water all at the same time, your tankless unit may be unable to keep up with the demand.
High Upfront Cost
Tankless water heaters are expensive to purchase. Plus, installing one in your home requires specialized skill and experience to make sure it runs smoothly. This also means that the professional fee for installation will add to the overall cost.
However, their energy efficiency outweighs the splurge. When you don’t use your tankless unit, it doesn’t work, unlike traditional water heaters. It’s a cost-effective investment in the long run.
FAQs
What Is the Downside of a Tankless Water Heater?
Tankless water heaters are a wonderful on-demand supply of hot water. However, they can only heat a limited amount of water at a time.
If you’re going to use it to run your washing machine and dishwasher all at once, for example, the water temperature may fluctuate. This is because the heater will have to supply hot water to multiple outlets simultaneously. So, this could be a problem if your household has a high demand for hot water.
Can You Run Out of Hot Water With a Tankless Water Heater?
It all depends on your unit and how you use it. Tankless heaters will heat water when you need it, but if demand exceeds the unit’s capacity, you may run out of supply. If you’re a light user or don’t require hot water for multiple chores simultaneously, you should have ample hot water throughout your home.
Do Tankless Water Heaters Use a Lot of Electricity?
If your household consumes 41 gallons or less of hot water per day, the EPA suggests that a tankless heater will use up to 34% less energy than a tank-style one. Even doubling that volume of water will only raise your consumption by about 10%. In fact, they cost less to operate than traditional water heaters.
Can Bacteria Grow in Tankless Water Heater?
Being tankless means that water won’t sit in or calcify your unit. This also means that germs and bacteria won’t have time to grow. This is because the water flows straight from the pump through the unit, then passes through the pipes, and out your faucet.
However, it’s still important to maintain a tankless water heater. Cleaning the unit and using a water softener can minimize mineral buildup.
What Is the Lifespan of a Tankless Water Heater?
With proper regular upkeep, most tankless water heaters could last you up to 10 years or more.
How Long Can You Run a Tankless Water Heater?
There is no time limit on how long you can run it. Unlike tank-type water heaters, which constantly heat water in the large cylinder even when not being used, tankless water heaters heat water as it runs through the system. A tankless water heater can continue to heat water for as long as there is a consistent supply of water.
Wrap Up
Tankless water heaters offer many advantages that traditional tank-style heaters don’t. They provide an instant supply of hot water and can save you money on energy expenses in the long term by heating water on demand.
We hope you’ve found our guide helpful in understanding how they work. If you’re thinking about installing a tankless system in your home, weigh the pros and cons. It’s also a good idea to speak with a professional to choose the best option for your household.
Got any more questions about tankless water heaters and how they work? Feel free to reach out and we’ll be happy to help. Good luck!
