October 2, 2012
Tankless water heating could save you money over a storage water heater. Because tankless water heaters don't store hot water, they don't produce the standby energy loss storage water heaters do. Instead, tankless models heat water only as needed by using a gas burner or electric element to heat water passing through. Despite potential savings, though, these water heaters aren't right for every home.
Consider these factors when determining if tankless water heating is right for your home:
- Your household's water usage: If your household uses 41 gallons of hot water a day or less, tankless water heating could be between 24 and 34 percent more energy efficient for you than a storage water heater, according to experts from the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy efficiency decreases the more water you use, though, so tankless heaters may not be ideal for households that use a large amount of water.
- Available fuel types: Electric tankless water heaters are less energy efficient than gas-fired ones, and the flow rate is also lower. On average, a tankless water heater can supply 2 to 5 gallons of hot water per minute. Electric models operate on the low end of this range. But, despite the higher flow rate of gas models, a single unit may not be able to meet the demands of multiple uses, such as providing water for a shower and the washing machine at the same time. The solution is to install multiple tankless water heaters.
- Purchase and installation costs: Although purchase and installation costs are higher for tankless models than for storage models, in many cases the energy savings make up for the difference over time. Before you choose, do your homework to make sure a tankless model is right for your household.
