How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?

Is your water heater approaching ten years of use? Does hot water not last as long as it used to? Is your energy use increasing, and you aren’t sure why?

We depend on hot water for a range of essential activities, from bathing to laundry to dishwashing. Not only that, the U.S. Department of Energy states that approximately 20 percent of the average American home’s energy is used to generate hot water.

If your hot water situation isn’t what it should be, it might be time for a water heater replacement. And a tankless water heater is the way to go if you want to improve your hot water generation and lower your energy bills substantially.

Tankless water heater basics

As the name suggests, there is no storage tank in a tankless water heater. Instead, the unit will heat water on demand. Here’s a general overview of how it works:

1. A hot water tap is opened, and your tankless water heater detects the flow.
2. Its flow sensor activates to determine how much hot water is needed.
3. The igniter activates, calibrated to provide the correct flame intensity for the hot water needed.
4. Cold water is heated in the secondary heat exchanger and passes from the secondary to the primary heat exchanger.
5. Your water heater determines outgoing set temperatures and adjusts the flame to heat the water.
6. Heated water moves to the buffer tank and then to the open tap.
7. When the hot water tap is closed, the burner shuts down.

The benefits of going tankless

Changing to a tankless water heater offers a range of benefits for your home’s comfort and budget. These include the following:

1. Plentiful hot water

A tankless water heater can deliver a virtually endless supply of hot water right when you need it. You don’t have to worry about depleting your tank of preheated water, and you don’t need to choose between running the dishwasher and taking a shower!

2. Lower energy bills

The Department of Energy says tankless water heaters can be up to 34% more energy efficient than traditional tank water heaters. By providing hot water only when it’s needed, these systems eliminate standby losses that are typically experienced with storage tank water heaters. So, you’re not wasting energy or money when the system isn’t in use.

3. More space in your home

Tankless water heaters take up very little space. Most of them are about the size of a suitcase and hang on your wall. Indeed, making the change from a storage-tank water heater to a tankless unit saves roughly 12 square feet of floor space.

4. A longer-lasting hot water system

Because tankless water heaters have less exposure than storage tank units to corrosive particles in water, they last about twice as long before they need to be replaced — generally around 20 years!
If you’re considering replacing your water heater, we recommend contacting JW Pierson Co. immediately. It takes more time to secure equipment these days, and you don’t want to be left with a failing appliance and no hot water.

The JW Pierson team does more water heater installations than anyone in Essex, Passaic and Bergen County. Contact us today for a quote.