Have you ever noticed that when you're the last one to take a shower that half-way through you get a cold surprise? Or has this happened to you: when you turn on the hot water, you scald your hands. This is probably because you have a traditional water heater. However, tankless hot water heaters are able to sustain a constant temperature while also saving you money in the long run.
How They Work
Electric tankless water heaters are very small units, typically hung on the side of a house, which are preset to a specific temperature. When you turn on your hot faucet, a device in this unit is activated by the flow of water, triggering it to be heated instantly. Therefore, your water is only heated when you are using it. You never have to pay for "standby" water like traditional water heaters which have to store the water all the time. Storing water is expensive because the tank has to constantly heat and then reheat the water in the tank, even when you're not using it.
Efficiency (to Your Wallet)
Since electric tankless water heaters don't have to consistently reheat the water, your electric bills will actually be reduced. Traditional water tanks cycle on and off, even when you're gone from the house, and keeping this water warm uses up a lot of energy. But tankless heaters only work when you want them to.
Also, since traditional tanks have to constantly warm up the water throughout the day, it actually overheats the water in an effort to avoid running out of it. This means that sometimes the water will come out scalding hot. In fact, these tanks will actually add cold water when you turn on the hot water faucet in order to make the temperature more comfortable. All this waste is not only bad for the environment, but it's also costing you money.
Other Benefits
Tankless hot water heaters not only you save up to 20 to 50 percent on your energy bills, they are also efficient in other ways:
Save Space:
Unlike tanks which take up a lot of room, tankless heaters are small and out of the way.
No Replacement:
These units typically come with a lifetime warranty, whereas tanks will eventually give out over time.
No leaking:
Since there is no storing large quantities of water, electric tankless water heaters never seep.
Environmentally Friendly:
Due to less water use and energy waste, these particular units run on fewer fossil fuels and conserve more power.
Healthier:
Letting water sit for too long can create certain bacteria, whereas a tankless water heaters never have to store water.
If you're tired of high energy bills and relighting that pilot light, an electric tankless water heater is probably the solution for you. Not only are they more sophisticated, contemporary, and hidden away, the additional comfort they provide is worth the acquired savings.
