Never before have homeowners had so many choices when it comes to using a hot water heater, but one seems to be a very popular choice among the bunch: tankless hot water heaters. These types of hot water heaters are also known as “on-demand” hot water heaters, but not many people understand why. The name comes from how a tankless system works, as we’ll explain more about below.
Using a Heat Exchanger
Traditional storage tank hot water heaters use a heating element to heat water. In a tankless unit, the water is heated by using a heat exchanger. When a hot water tap opens, two things happen at the same time with a tankless system: the heat exchanger coils heat up very quickly and the cold water intake valve opens up and allows water to flow into the heat exchanger. The heat from the coils is transferred to the water. Once the water heats to the pre-set temperature, it flows to the open water tap. While this process may seem quite involved, it takes only seconds. This is the process every time hot water is called for: water is heated only when needed, hence the name “on-demand.”
Why Are Tankless Systems Popular?
Part of the reason you may have heard of a tankless hot water heater is their growing popularity, which is attributable to some of the benefits they offer, such as:
- Very good energy efficiency – tankless units only use energy when hot water is called for, which reduces the overall amount of power you use to heat the water for your home. Additionally, there is no tank through which heat can be lost, i.e. “standby heat loss,” making tankless systems very energy efficient.
- Longer lifespan – the average lifespan for a tankless unit is 20 years, which is 7-10 years longer than that of a tank system.
- Saves space – tankless units don’t have a bulky tank that has to fit somewhere in your home, leaving open space you can use for something else.
Interested to find out more? Call the experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling today and see what a tankless hot water heater can do for your home in Bolingbrook.
