The average North American home spends more than 20% of their energy costs on
hot water heating. Because of recent events, the price of energy is going up
ever day. A few years ago, the average operating cost for a gas or electric
storage tank hot water system was about $500.00 annually, which serviced a
1300sq.foot home with four adults. Therefore, it is vital for us to take a
closer look at where we are spending our money.
Conventional tank hot water heaters heat and maintain the water temperature to
the desired setting on the tank, which is normally between 120o F-14oF, or
49oC-60oC. The system continuously heats the water even when no water is drawn
from the tank, such as when we are sleeping or away from the home. This wasted
energy is referred to as ‘standby loses.’ This standby loses represents
approximately 10% to 20% of a household's annual water heating cost.
Instantaneous or tankless water heaters will reduce this expense.
Throughout the rest of the world different methods of heating water, such as
tankless hot water heaters are used due in part because, energy costs are
consistently higher than in North America. Then approximately 25 years ago,
these tankless systems began appearing in the United States and Canada.
Tankless hot water heaters heat water only as it is being used or on demand,
which is why you will hear many refer to these systems as “On Demand Water
Heaters.” When the hot water faucet is opened, the flow of water turns on the
heating element, which heats the water as it runs through copper tubes. When the
faucet is turned off, so is the heat, saving you money in energy cost. A
computer located in the system monitors the water temperature and adjusts the
heaters accordingly. With an on demand system, there is no stand by loss, making
the average energy efficiency rating for a tankless or on demand water heater
30% higher when compared to a standard gas water heater or as much as 70% when
compared to a standard electric water heater.
There are several different types and models of tankless hot water heaters. Some
models have the ability to supply heat to the house as it heats the water. These
models usually are connected to either radiant floor heat or a heating coil
located in your furnace. Other models have the ability to be mounted on the
exterior of your home, which frees up valuable square footage for living space.
As with the conventional types of water heaters, tankless water heaters are
available in either gas or electric, with many only utilizing a relatively small
amount of space.
Some of the major manufacturers include: Bosch, Paloma Industries, PowerStar,
Takagi, Rheem, Noritz, Rinnai, and Luna Baxi to name a few.
In order to find the right tankless water heater to meet your particular needs,
we suggest that you go online and do research on the many different brands and
models available and then contact a professional. |
