Tankless or Demand-Type Water Heaters

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Demand-Type Water Heaters

A Tankless Water Heater is also referred to as an on-demand water heater. The heater is called tankless because they do not have tanks to store hot water. They deliver hot water when demanded, so they do not keep any water in them.

The Tankless water heaters are different in this functioning to that from the Tank Water heater. When the water is heated, it goes immediately to the shower. There is no need to staring it to be used later. You hence will get a continuous water flow of water.

To get to understand these water heaters operate and their usage. We have this article to explain all that. We shall discuss how these heaters work, the circumstances when they are applicable, and their pros and cons.

How Tankless Water Heaters work 

Tankless water heaters or on-demand water heaters provide hot water only when needed. They hence are not associated with factors like heat loss, but how do they work to achieve this;

  • These heaters heat water straight to the showers without using storage tanks. 
  • When the tap for hot water is turned on, cold water from the source travels through a pipe into the unit.
  • An electric heating element or a gas burner component heats the water.
  • Thus, the on-demand water heater always supplies water in continuous form. This means that there is no point in hot water being stored or the water waiting. 
  • You don’t need to wait for a tank to get packed. The electric water heater has a higher hot water flow rate than the gas burner water heater.
  • The tankless water heater cannot supply water for more than three uses. You must install more of them in such cases to meet the demand. However, they are generally more effective than heaters with storage tanks. 

Circumstances when they are applicable

On-demand water heaters are used in the following circumstances;

  • When one needs instant hot water to take a shower.
  • If there is inadequate space to place a tank.
  • Applicable for reducing heat loss through the tank.
  • Useable where there is little power supply.
  • They are used when water is needed immediately without waiting for the tank to get full.
  • When you want to reduce the storage cost.

The above is why people prefer Tankless water heaters or on-demand water heaters to Tank water heaters.

Pros

  • These water heaters use less energy.
  • It is efficient to offer hot water when you need it.
  • The heater saves on space & Reduces the Storage cost
  • Offer a continuous supply of water.
  • It has a reduced price of maintenance.
  • It provides a reduced power consumption plan.

Cons

  • Have no storage space for later usage of water.
  • Tankless water heaters have no storage for the hot water
  • The heater’s upfront cost must be large to meet demand. 
  • They have a High Initial Cost of purchasing and installing the heater.