A tankless water heater differs from a traditional water heater in the way it goes about its task: namely, by heating water only when it’s needed instead of all the time. That translates into less energy use, which in turn helps keep your monthly bills low. Tankless water heaters generally require a little more money to install, with the lower bills serving as a payoff for the up-front costs. A trained West Covina plumber can discuss the specifics with you, and explain how a particular tankless water heater may benefit your home. Call Ace Pelizon Plumbing for more details.
In general terms, a tankless water heater relies on a heat exchanger to raise the temperature of the water. When you turn on your hot water – to use a shower, say, or do the dishes – flow sensors activate the exchange. Water then circulates through it and is heated to the desired temperature before passing on to your faucet or shower head. When you shut the hot water off, the heat exchanger shuts down. In addition to saving energy, this theoretically provides an infinite supply of hot water (unlike traditional tanked water heaters, which rely on a tank of constantly heated water that may run out).
The drawbacks of this system include a certain amount of lag time as the heat exchangers warm up. Some tankless water heaters – called point-of-use heaters – are intended only for a single outlet or two. That keeps their size small and lets them be placed near the outlet they’re supposed to heat, which cuts down on the lag time for heating the water. Other tankless water heaters work throughout the household, with larger exchangers and an increased demand for power.
Tankless water heaters work best in smaller households that don’t use a lot of hot water: their increased efficiency in such households can translate to an energy savings of up to 34%, according to the Department of Energy. That savings goes down with the more water you use, making tankless systems less desirable for larger households.
Regardless of your individual circumstances, however, it pays to consult a plumbing expert when deciding if a tankless water heater works for you. That’s why you should call on Ace Pelizon Plumbing to help you. We serve West Covina and most surrounding communities, and our experts can install tanked and tankless systems alike. Contact our hard-working team today and schedule a consultation.
