American Houses

If you are about ready to replace your aging hot water tank, why not get up to date on what the new tankless water heaters have to offer? This is technology that offers an energy efficient alternative to conventional heaters.

On Demand Water Heaters - 07:04 min.


If you are looking for reasons for choosing a tankless water heater for your home, there are several. One, of course, is the efficiency it offers, year after year. This can be significant over the life of a tankless model, which itself can be significant. And there is the option of replaceable parts. All these are good environmental reasons to go tankless.

Not to be overlooked is the efficiency factor. Many of today´s appliances are far more energy efficient than they were 10 years ago. Do the math and you can see why the doubling of natural gas prices in the last decade and the doubling on energy efficiency could make a significant difference.

A fair comparison of tank and tankless heater should point up the fact that most conventional heaters are cheaper to install - perhaps less than a third the price of a gas tankless. Of course, this extra money spent initially is made up by years of higher efficiency.

Tank and tankless heaters come with quit a few differences that can color your decision. One of these is how much you are willing to spend initially. If a tight budget is dictating what kind of hot water heater you can afford then a gas tankless heater is probably not an option. On the other hand, an electric tankless may be doable. But there are a few points to work out. First is where you live geographically. While the difference in temperature between ground and heater affects how long it takes a conventional heater to recycle, it can actually cut the flow rate of a tankless by half. This could mean that a temperature difference of, say 60 or 70 degrees, could leave you with too little hot water to take a shower.

Once you´ve done your homework with these two heating systems it should be easier to pick the one that right for you home. Let me repeat: Electric tankless and tank home hot water heaters are about the same cost installed, while gas tankless heaters will cost about three times as much initially. It´s a good idea to compare the cost of natural gas an electrical power for your area, it could affect your decision, since electric tankless heater are 15-20 percent more efficient than gas.

There can be a lot at stake when you purchase a new water heater. Since this is an investment that could be with you for 10 or 20 years, let´s look at how it can affect your pocketbook. The initial cost of gas tankless water heaters can be 2 to 3 times as much as conventional heaters, because of special installation requirements that comes with this high heat unit. For electrical models, which cost about the same as tank models, there could be a need for improved electrical service. What will make this worthwhile is the long-term savings that come from high efficiency.

Hot water no longer has to be a single source solution. Supplying your home with smaller conventional unit and a matching electric tankless might be the ticket, depending on your needs. Electric is cheaper to install and more efficient to operate. To get the full picture, find out what the gas and electric rates are for your area. Comparing the two can be done by converting KWH and cubic feet to Btu´s or Therms.

Upgrading your home appliances is a step in the right direction, especially a fuel hungry water heater. High efficiency is something that saves money and offers the satisfaction of doing something for the environment.


About the Author: Ryan Fletcher. Easy steps to install a tankless water heater. Want more home tankless hot water heater info?