How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?

If your home’s hot water tank is starting to fail, it’s time to look for a replacement. The differences in how it operates as an on-demand option are convincing more homeowners to install tankless systems. This overview offers the information you need to decide whether this is the right alternative for your home.

Tankless or On-Demand Water Heaters: What Do They Do?

Instead of storing water in a large tank, a tankless water heater delivers hot water as it’s needed. This involves heating the water as it travels through the pipes. The process starts with a flow sensor that alerts the system when water enters the heater apparatus. 

The heating process varies based on the type of tankless system. In a gas-powered system, the sensor tells the unit to turn on the fan and ignite the burners. The system uses a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the burner to the water. A gas system costs more to install, but it offers the best performance.

An electric system uses copper rods to heat the water. The system keeps the copper wire rods heated to ensure they can heat the water quickly. Depending on the volume of hot water, this system might struggle to heat the water efficiently. 

Both gas and electric systems use BTUs (British thermal units) to measure the unit’s heating power. A unit with more BTUs will heat the water faster and keep up with higher demand. 

The climate will also affect the necessary BTUs necessary to heat water to 120 degrees. 

In New Hampshire and other northern U.S. states, the average groundwater temperature is 42 degrees. You’ll need a 650 BTU system. In southern Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, the average groundwater temperature is 72 degrees. In this climate, a system with 400 BTUs is sufficient. 

Why Choose a Tankless Water Heater for Your Home?

It’s never easy to make a change when it comes to a system you have reliably used for years. You’ll feel more confident with your new tankless system once you look at the benefits it offers over traditional water heater tanks. Here are a few ways a tankless system stands out.

Greater Longevity

It makes sense that an on-demand water heater lasts longer since there’s less equipment to maintain. You won’t have to worry about maintaining a large tank that can corrode over time. As a result, a tankless system usually lasts 20 years. By comparison, a traditional water heater tank has a lifespan of 10-15 years.

Better Water Quality

Anode rods in your water heater tank keep corrosion from contaminating the water as it sits in the tank. You’ll have to replace these rods every two to three years to maintain this protection. Even with new rods, trace metals can leak into the water from the rods and alter water quality.

A tankless system doesn’t use these rods since there isn’t a need to store water. This eliminates the trace metal contamination common in tanks. Additionally, it’s easy to connect a tankless heater to a filtration system. If you choose to install a water purifier, you can enhance the water quality in your home.

More Efficient Energy Usage

Most homeowners notice a decline in their energy costs after switching to tankless water heaters. That’s because a tank consistently uses energy to heat the water in the tank. Even if you’re not using the tank, the system must keep the water heated and ready for use.

In addition to only heating the water you need, a tankless system has modulation technology. The equipment only uses enough energy to bring the water up to the desired temperature. Since you may not always want the water to reach 120 degrees, your system saves energy by meeting your specific temperature requirements.

On-Demand Hot Water

With a tank water heater system, it’s not uncommon to run out of hot water when you’re using it for multiple purposes. If you’re washing dishes and laundry at the same time, the temperature of the water can suddenly drop. 

That won’t happen with a tankless system. No matter how much hot water you need, the system will continuously heat and deliver the water without a temperature reduction.

Enjoy the Benefits of On-Demand Hot Water

Now that you know more about the performance of a tankless water heater, you’re ready to make an informed choice. A professional can assess your hot water needs and ensure your new system will meet your requirements for efficient and on-demand hot water use. Before long, you’ll experience all the benefits of tankless water heaters.

Need help with water heater installation, repair, or maintenance? Contact us today to learn more about your options – including tankless water heaters.