Do Tankless Water Heaters Save More Energy?
Chances are, you haven’t thought much about your water heater unless there’s something wrong with it. But it’s definitely an important appliance in the home. As with most home appliances, water heaters experience wear and tear with time. If you happen to notice that it’s taking longer to get warm, or not warming your water at all, your water heater may need to be replaced. Of all the factors to consider when choosing a new water heater, part of your concern may be energy efficiency.
Do tankless water heaters save more energy, saving you more money on utility bills? Let’s find out!
Tank Or No Tank?
A typical residential home has water storage of about 40 to 50 gallons of water at a time. Pipes within the home transport the water to the desired location: typically, the kitchen and bathrooms. Tankless water heaters use quick-heating burners to warm the water as it’s delivered to each of these locations, using either gas or electricity.
In terms of energy efficiency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that tankless water heaters use about 34% less energy than its traditional storage counterpart. However, this strongly depends on how much water is used in the home daily.
There is, however, one caveat. If your tankless water heater runs on gas, that means your home has a pilot light that’s constantly burning, which can cancel out its energy-saving properties. Therefore, it’s recommended to invest in a tankless heater with an intermittent ignition device (IID) so you have the option of switching it on and off as needed.
What Makes Tankless Water Heaters So Efficient?
So the verdict is that tankless water heaters are more energy-efficient than tank storage. But why?
Last Longer
Tankless water heaters can last up to 20 or 30 years, which means not having to spend money replacing them as often as traditional water heaters.
No Standby Heat Loss
Water stored in water heaters can actually lose heat. With anywhere from 30 to 50 gallons of water in the tank at a time, it’s warmed up whenever it’s needed. However, this results in continual heat loss, resulting in more energy use.
With tankless water heaters, the water isn’t stored for later use, which allows it to be heated and reheated multiple times.
Tankless Water Heater Installation In South Florida
Owning a home can keep you busy, with so much maintenance to stay on top of, you’ll want to save money whenever possible. That’s why the experts at Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric recommend tankless water heaters, so you can enjoy those hot showers without soaring utility bills. We have helped homeowners in the Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties cut back on energy costs without sacrificing quality plumbing since 1983.
For questions about our plumbing services, call today at 1-800-475-1504.
