It is a problem that has happened to all of us. You go in for a hot shower, only to find that there is no more hot water. You have come to the decision it is time to replace you hot water heater with one that has more capacity. The problem is that larger hot water heaters consume more energy, which will definitely have an impact upon your utilities bill. What you should be considering is a tankless water heater. Much like on demand service offered by TV providers nowadays, these heat the water only when it is needed. So you are not paying to keep many gallons of water at a high temperature. Further, these devices free up storage space, and can qualify for tax credits due to their energy saving nature.
Now everything has its limitations and compromises, and you should take them under consideration. Different models will draw upon different sources of power in heating the water, some electric, some gas. Different models will have varying scopes of application; where some might be attached to where they will be used, others will attach and provide for the whole home. The size of unit does determine the capacity for water usage. There are a number of different things that should be considered before you make the change.
Surprisingly enough, the tankless water heater has no tank. It creates hot water as required without storing any excess. This results in no loss from hot water being stored, and is the primary source of the claim of energy efficiency. These heaters take in cold water and is heated by a heating element, much like the water you put into a water heater. The source of heat can be gas, electric, propane. Gas and propane can typically heat much more than electric, and are suited for whole house units. What determines the capability of the water heater is the temperature of the cold water, the temperature of the desired hot water, and the flow of water.
Whole house heaters have a larger flow of water and can handle more than one faucet in the home. Different fixtures need different amounts of flow, as a shower head can use 5 or 6 times more water than a sink. When it comes time to determine the type, size and numbers of heaters that you will need, you will need to think of how many hot water sources will likely be on at a time, and the total flow you may need. You will also need to consider the region you live in, since farther from the equator equates to colder climates and a colder baseline.
All of these factors need to go into the decision to get a tankless water heater. You should consider the over all energy gain of buying one, savings that you will receive in tax benefits and energy reduction, and compare it to the initial setup cost, and any limitations as to range of capability for the unit.
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Originally posted 2009-03-02 05:58:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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