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This article begins what I intend to be a long series of general, informational articles on tankless water heaters. Most of these will be written by guest bloggers, as this one is. I thought this article was a nice clear explanation. -- Lou

If you have ever given a long thought to the inefficiencies of tank-type water heaters, you must have figured out many including inefficient use of energy and space. Those who figured this out before you saw the demand for tankless type water heaters and brought them into the market quickly. Still, a large number of people are used to conventional water heaters and unaware of how tankless heaters can solve some of their problems. Let's see how the concept of on-demand heating was applied to get another remarkable invention of mankind.

The main concept behind these heaters is provision of hot water on demand only. There are different types and they can utilize natural gas, propane or even electricity to heat water. Since these heaters don't have a storage tank with them, they heat up water only when it is required. The main component is a heat exchanger that gets switched on whenever the connected faucet or shower is opened. For this purpose, a flow-activated switch is used that detects the flow of water inside the pipeline. Two types of heat exchangers are used usually: gas-powered burner and electric coils. Gas-fired ones, however, are able to heat faster and more efficiently.

Tankless heaters are available in different sizes and determination of the size depends on three main factors: the amount of water that has to be heated in one minute; the temperature of water when it goes into the heater; and lastly, its preferable temperature that you want at the outlet. Unlike tank-type storage heaters that keep water at the desired temperature using a thermostat, tankless heaters heat water on demand; so the initial flow of water that you get after opening the faucet gets warmer gradually and you might need to waste some cold water before you get hot water. The amount of time it takes to get hot water after opening the faucet is known as lag time. Two types of tankless systems are available. The first one is the point-of-use heater, which is generally small in size and is used to provide hot water at a single outlet like a shower. Since it is installed in close proximity to the water outlet, a point-of-use heater typically has a lower lag time and less water is wasted. Since it is used to supply hot water at a single outlet, electric-powered fire exchangers can do the job quite well. Hence, most point-of-use systems run on electricity and can be fitted inside a cabinet or closet due to their small size.

The second type, whole-house tankless water heater, is able to heat a significantly greater amount of water per minute and can cater hot water at various outlets simultaneously. Since they need more energy to heat up larger volumes, they typically run on propane or gas. For larger houses, you may need more than one whole-house system. Showers typically necessitate addition of another whole-house tankless system because they usually need more hot water than ordinary taps. Due to their extra capabilities, whole-house heaters cost a lot more than point-of-use systems.

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Scott Rodgers is a master plumber who has recently begun writing articles for both a plumbing and non-plumbing audience. To view more of plumbing articles, visit http://www.eLocalPlumbers.com

Article Source: Tankless Water Heaters: How They Function - ArticleSpan.com

By articlespan.com

Tankless water heaters are growing in popularity, and with good reason. But not all is rosy with using such a heater. Here are four things that owners of tankless water heaters like and four things that they dislike.

Four Things People Like About Tankless Water Heaters

Owners of tankless hot water heaters comment that they like them for a variety of reasons. Here are the top four:

1. Endless hot water is great! No more running out in the middle of a long shower. Knowing you will always have enough is a good feeling.

2. Saving money: Although tankless units generally cost over twice as much as conventional ones, over the long haul you typically spend less, as these units also last over twice as long and can be repaired where a conventional unit would have to be replaced. Also, there are tax credits available in the US for certain gas units that meet Energy Star standards.

3. Saving space: tankless water heaters are amazingly small. They just hang on a wall and take up way less space than their conventional counterparts.

4. Doing something for the environment by not wasting energy: It's obvious that heating a large tank of hot water 23/7 is wasteful of energy. In contrast, tankless units only heat water when you need it.

So with these benefits, the tankless units sound great! Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way.

Four Things People Don't Like About Their Tankless Water Heaters

Because tankless hot waters deliver water so differently from conventional tank water heaters, it takes some getting used to. You will have to adjust some habits. Plus, a lot of owners discovered unexpected obstacles during or after installation. Here are the main four things that owners report not liking about their setups:

1. Flow delay: unless you happen to be using a unit that is right at the point of use, you will have to wait up to several minutes for hot water. Washing dishes by hand and turning the faucet on and off as you rinse? This habit works poorly with most tankless units because you'll have that flow delay every time you turn on the faucet. Besides your having to wait not necessarily patiently, another drawback is that cold water is most likely just going down the drain. (One Australian study concluded tankless water heaters waste "substantial" quantities of water.)

2. Not having enough hot water if the water heater wasn't sized large enough: If your unit isn't large enough for your needs, you will have cooler water than you want, or if it is hot enough, there might be less of it than you like. This is more of a problem in the winter in colder climates, where the incoming water will be way colder than it would be in, say, Florida. If you have this problem, the way to fix it is to upgrade your system in one way or another. If you are still just shopping, be sure to do your homework on how to size a tankless hot water system. (Some brands, like Takagi, sell heaters that can be joined together in parallel.) Generally, people in milder climates seem to be happier with their units, probably for this reason.

3. Problems with the heaters not working right: probably most of these issues can be traced to the installation not having been done correctly. Few contractors have experience with installations. As a result, owners' complaints on forums and review sites are numerous. Less than stellar customer service from some of the manufacturers doesn't help, either.

4. How expensive they are: It's not too surprising that tankless units cost more than the tank style – especially the gas ones, which are better for the environment. But if you are installing one in an existing home, you are quite likely to have to upgrade your gas or electric inputs, which can be expensive. Gas ones need venting as well. Many owners reported that the totals were higher than they expected, which means their payback period is further off.

So if you are researching whether to get a tankless water heater, consider these factors. If you get one, you'll know what to watch out for!

I was pleased to find this article from the US Department of Energy, EERE (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy). As it's in the public domain, it can be reprinted and so I am putting it here. The original article can be found here. Even if you know the basics, some of the links at the bottom may be useful to you.-- Lou

Demand (Tankless or Instantaneous) Water Heaters

Demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money. Here you'll find basic information about how they work, whether a demand water heater might be right for your home, and what criteria to use when selecting the right model. Read more

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