For many years, water heaters have not changed. You had a round cylinder in your closet, attic, crawlspace or garage. It was either powered by electricity or gas and the burners kept the water in the tank hot for washing dishes or taking a shower.
Tankless Water Heater. The newest technology in gas water heaters is called a tankless water heater. It is about the size of a small suitcase. The new design does not have a holding tank for water; the water is heated on demand as you turn on your dishwasher or shower.
Like a traditional gas water heater, you can control the temperature of the water. The traditional water heater has a control knob on the heater while the tankless models have a digital readout panel that is often installed inside your home.
Advantages. Although more expensive initially, there are several advantages to having a tankless water heater:
- The water heater takes up less space
- It costs less to operate per year – the percentage varies depending on how many gallons of water water your household uses per day
- It doesn’t have a tank that can rust or deteriorate so it has a longer estimated lifespan
- The control panel is easier to access to adjust temperature – for example you can turn up the temperature to fill up a garden or whirlpool tub so the water is the right temperature after you fill the large tub.
- They can be installed in a new home or in an existing home that has a traditional water heater in a different location.
Energy.Gov The US Department of Energy has an article with good information about tankless water heaters.
How About You? Have you had personal experience with tankless water heaters? If so, I would like to hear your comments below or send your comments here.
