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9 Benefits of Investing in a Tankless Water Heater

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9 Benefits of Investing in a Tankless Water Heater

If you have ever had to stand around and wait for warm water prior to showering or have had a low supply of hot water, you are not alone. The total amount of warm water a traditional water heater is able to is limited to the size of its tank. When you are trying to get to work or the kids to bed or school, there’s no time to waste waiting for water to heat up. While a tankless water heater may have a higher upfront price when compared to a traditional tank water heater, there are various benefits of investing in a tankless system.

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Tankless Water Heater Advantages

Continuous & Instant Hot Water

With a standard tank-style water heater, once the hot water runs out, you must wait for the water that replaces it to heat up. You are limited to only the amount of hot water that your tank holds. A benefit of tankless water heaters is instantaneous hot water. Also, when your home is equipped with a built-in recirculation pump, you will always have instant hot water instead of waiting a few seconds for hot water to come out of the tap.

Tankless Water Heaters Save Space

A traditional water heater requires space for its tank. You can free up space in your utility room or garage with a tankless system. An advantage of tankless water heaters is their compact form factor. This type of heater is about the size of a small suitcase and conveniently mounts on a wall.

Less Maintenance

A tank on a traditional water heater will require annual maintenance to prevent the collection of sediment. An advantage of investing in a tankless water heater is the low amount of maintenance this type of system requires. 

A tankless heater may be able to operate correctly for five years or more without receiving continuous tune-ups or repairs. However, you may be required to schedule an annual maintenance appointment with a professional plumber if you have hard water in your area to prevent a buildup of minerals by the heating element.

Superior Rate of Water Distribution

Since this type of system is engineered to produce warm water as it is needed, a benefit of purchasing a tankless water heater includes the ability to operate various sinks, appliances, and fixtures at once. With a whole-home tankless water heater, you are able to turn on your sprinkler, shower, kitchen sink, and dishwasher at the same time without running low on hot water.

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Increased Energy Efficiency

Another benefit of tankless water heaters is increased energy efficiency. With a traditional tank water heater, energy is required to keep the water in the tank warm throughout the day. On the other hand, a tankless system uses less energy, which means lower energy bills and more money in your pocket each month.

Reduces Water Usage

A standard tank water heater will take 3 – 4 minutes to produce warm water. Once the tank is out of hot water, it may take as long as 30 minutes to refill and heat the water again. Since a standard tank water heater does not produce instant warm water, you may be wasting water while you are waiting for your shower to get warm. An advantage of tankless water heaters includes fast and continuous hot water while washing the dishes, showering, or doing laundry.

Increased Lifespan

Most standard tank water heaters have a warranty of about six years with a lifespan around 10-12 years. An  advantage of a tankless water heater is their extensive 20 – 25 year lifespan.

Cleaner & Safer Water

As a traditional water heater reaches the middle or end of its lifespan, rust and sediment may begin to form on the bottom of the water tank. Consuming rust and other types of contaminants may be harmful to your physical health. A benefit of owning a tankless water heater includes having access to clean water that is not filled with excess minerals, rust, and contaminants from water tanks.

Lower Risk of Leaks

A tankless heater gives you peace of mind. A big benefit of tankless water heaters includes decreased probabilities of leaks and a longer lifespan.  The risk of a leak that could flood your home or cause water or mold damage is eliminated with a tankless water heater.

What is a Tankless Water Heater?

What is a Tankless Water Heater?

While a traditional water heater utilizes electricity or natural gas throughout the day to keep the water in its tank warm, a tankless water heater is engineered to heat the water in your house as it is needed. This helps you save money on your monthly utility bills and conserve natural gas. A tankless water heater utilizes a heat exchanger to increase the temperature of incoming water prior to reaching your sink, faucet, or shower head. 

Depending on the type of tankless water heater you invest in, it will include either electrical coils or gas burners that are activated by the movement of water. The latest tankless water heaters for sale are able to be operated with electric, gas, or propane.

Point-of-Use & Whole-Home Tankless Water Heaters

The two main categories of tankless water heaters include point-of-use and whole-house systems. A point-of-use tankless water heater is engineered to provide warm water to a maximum of one or two fixtures or sinks in your home. Since this type of system features a compact form factor, it is able to be installed in or near a shower, washing machine, cabinet, or closet. 

A benefit of point-of-use tankless water heaters includes its close proximity to a sink or shower. A large quantity of heat is lost in your pipes as hot water is pushed a long distance from a traditional tank water heater to your fixtures. Since a tankless water heater is located near your sinks or fixtures, little to no heat is wasted before it reaches you. Expand on Whole-Home Tankless Water Heaters

Most point-of-use tankless water heaters are operated with electricity while whole-home heaters utilize gas or propane. Prior to selecting a type of tankless, you will be required to identify the flow rate of your home. This is a metric that refers to the total quantity of warm water your family will require at a moments notice.

How a Gas Tankless Water Heater Operates

1.) A Water Flow Sensor Identifies Incoming Water

A tankless water heater performs a large number of tasks to provide hot or warm water to your sinks and shower. Once you activate the hot water on a sink, a water flow sensor identifies the incoming water and delivers a command to the control panel to begin the standard warm water production cycle.

2.) Control Panel Activates the Blower Motor & Begins the Combustion Process

To begin producing warm water, the control board sends a signal to activate the blower motor. The fan is engineered to collect the proper amount of exterior air required for the gas combustion process. Next, the gas valve is opened and gas is pushed through a gas line to the burners.

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3.) Heat is Transferred From the Gas Burners to the Heat Exchanger

Once the incoming gas from the gas valve is pushed to the burners, a flame will be ignited to produce heat. The heat exchanger will become hot as it collects a sufficient amount of heat energy from the gas burners. Next, a supply of cold water is pushed through the tubes of the heat exchanger. 

As the water supply travels through the exchanger, its temperature will begin to increase. As the water is exiting the heat exchanger, it is processed by a mixing valve to ensure the water temperature is safe for you and your family. The mixing valve in your tankless water heater will blend the hot water from the heat exchanger with cold water to prevent issues such as scalding. 

4.) Temperature Sensor Inspects the Water to Confirm If It is Too Cold or Hot

A temperature sensor in a tankless heater is designed to inspect the temperature of the water to confirm of the temperature is too high or low. If the temperature of the water that is being pushed to your sink or shower is too cold, the temperature sensor will modify the mixing valve and gas valve to accommodate your temperature preference. 

Since it takes the temperature sensor will need to modify the temperature of the water exiting the tankless water heater, it may take a couple of seconds for the water coming out of your sink or shower to become warm. Lastly, the exhaust created throughout the combustion process is safely pushed through a vent that is connected to the tankless water heater to the outdoor air. If you have questions about what a tankless water heater is and the benefits it provides, give the team at Fenwick Home Services a call by phone at 904-217-5694‬ or book an appointment online.

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Tankless Water Heater Maintenance & Installation

If you want to enjoy the benefits of tankless water heaters, contact our staff today to receive a free estimate on a tankless system. Our team provides reliable and affordable tankless water heater repair and installation services in Jacksonville and other areas of Florida. The team at Fenwick Home Services also offers other types of plumbing services such as water line repair, sump pump installation, drain cleaning, and water heater repair. Give us a call by phone at 904-217-5694‬ if you have any questions about the advantages of tankless heaters.

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