On-Demand Water Heaters 101
On-demand water heaters, also known as tankless or instantaneous water heaters, only provide hot water when you need it. This means standby energy loss associated with storage water heaters doesn’t exist with on-demand versions. If you’re looking to save energy and money, these water heaters could be right for you.
Saving with On-Demand Water Heaters
According to ENERGY STAR®, if you consume fewer than 41 gallons of hot water per day, an on-demand water heater could save you 24% to 34% on your water heating bills. Even if you consume twice this much hot water, you can still appreciate 8% to 14% energy savings. ENERGY STAR estimates that the average family can save $100 or more per year by installing an efficient on-demand water heater.
How Does an On-Demand Water Heater Work?
When you turn on a hot water faucet, you create a demand for hot water.
- Cold water rushes into the water heater
- An electric coil or gas burner heats the water instantaneously
- The hot water travels the rest of the way to the faucet
- Hot water is at your fingertips!
Keep in mind that since it takes a few seconds for the water heater to power on and determine the flow rate, it may actually take a little longer for the water at the tap to heat up. Once it does, you have unlimited hot water, making back-to-back showers comfortable for everyone.
Important Factors to Consider
In general, tankless water heaters can provide two to five gallons of hot water per minute. Gas-fired models have higher flow rates than electric-powered units. To prevent wasting energy with a constantly burning pilot light, an intermittent ignition device, or IID, is preferred for gas-fired on-demand water heaters.
Even the largest gas-fired water heaters may not be able to keep up when hot water is needed in multiple places at the same time. For example, trying to take a shower while the dishwasher is running may push an on-demand water heater past its limit. One way to overcome flow rate restrictions is to install more than one water heater.
Water Heater Replacement in Central Jersey
The knowledgeable plumbers at Arctic Air Conditioning can provide you with an efficient, properly sized on-demand water heater to help you save money and enjoy limitless hot water. To learn more about tankless water heaters or to schedule your installation, contact us online or call us at 732-455-9110.
