Water heaters are an essential appliance for Chicago homes. A functioning water heater makes everyday activities like dishwashing and laundry easier or even fun, says IPM Property Solutions. During winter, your water heater can be a literal lifesaver.
But water heaters use a lot of energy. A large part of your home’s energy bill is from the gas or electricity used to power the water heater. Given the high cost of electricity and gas, high energy usage by a water heater is a major problem for homeowners.
Is it possible to cut your water heater’s energy usage?
You can with a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters help to reduce the amount of money you spend monthly to heat water in your home. What’s more? You can achieve lower energy usage by your water heater without having to limit your family’s access to hot water.
What is a tankless water heater, and how does installing one in your Chicago home help to make the home more energy-efficient?
How a tankless water heater works
The water heater found in an average American home comes with a large tank that is used to store heated water until the water is needed. This traditional water heater, also known as a storage water heater, is commonly found in basements, attics, and garages.
But it is not the only kind of water heater available. There is a different and newer type of water heater known as an instantaneous or on-demand water heater. This new type of water heater does not come with a storage tank, which is why it is called a tankless water heater.
Tankless water heaters only heat water when it is needed. Instead of preheating water and storing it in a tank for later use, a tankless water heater heats water immediately after any faucet inside the home is turned. Water is passed through a heat exchanger to rapidly raise its temperature.
This design ensures the home has a constant supply of hot water without the need to store preheated water inside a large tank. As a result, tankless water heaters use less energy without a negative impact on the comfort of residents.
How tankless water heaters help you save energy
Tankless water heaters save energy by eliminating standby heat loss. Standby heat loss is a major problem for storage water heaters because they have to constantly reheat the water inside their tank to maintain its temperature. Tankless water heaters don’t suffer from this problem.
Depending on the size of your home and how much water your household uses, a tankless water heater will improve your home’s energy efficiency by as much as 30%. If the tankless water heater is gas-powered, you can expect it to be 22% more efficient than a traditional water heater.
For small households that use less than 41 gallons of hot water daily, the improvement in energy efficiency with a tankless water heater is 24% – 34%. For larger homes that use 86+ gallons of hot water per day, they can expect an 8% – 14% improvement in energy efficiency.
But this is not the only way a tankless water heater saves you money. Another cost-saving benefit of installing a tankless water heater is that it lasts longer than traditional water heaters. This is partly because tankless water heaters are less vulnerable to rust and leakage.
Where a traditional water heater may be expected to last 10 -15 years, a tankless water heater will easily retain its function for 20 years. At the same time, the cost of maintaining the tankless water heater is lower because the parts are easily replaceable.
Tankless water heaters also take up less space. Being a lot smaller than traditional water heaters, they are perfect for homes that are short on space. Indeed, installing one in any home will free up lots of storage space in the garage, basement, etc.
What to know before buying a tankless water heater
- Your home’s hot water demand
Before buying a tankless water heater, you should know the flow rate and temperature rise needed to keep appliances and plumbing fixtures adequately supplied. For instance, how many gallons per minute (GPM) of hot water does your shower use?
- Choose your energy option
Electric or gas-powered tankless water heater? It depends on your energy efficiency goals and installation requirements. Gas tankless water heaters are more efficient and can handle higher flow rates but have higher installation requirements.
- The Energy Efficiency rating
You can determine a tankless water heater’s energy rating by looking at its uniform energy factor (UEF). This is a measure of how much energy is needed to power the appliance and heat water. Higher UEF appliances are more energy-efficient.
- Installation location
Do you plan to install your tankless water heater indoors or outdoors? Indoor units need less maintenance than outdoor units, but they may require you to alter your plumbing and add a drain connection.
Finally, due to the complexity of installing a tankless water heater and for your safety, it is always recommended to let a plumber install the appliance. Moreover, a professional will ensure that you buy a tankless water heater that fully meets your home’s needs.