A guide to tankless water heaters

Having hot water on demand is something that has been sought for centuries. The first rudimentary hot water tanks were no more than hot springs. As these are not readily available throughout the world, other alternatives were sought. This article gives an overview of tankless water heaters.

Understanding water heaters

The earliest water heaters were tankless but they were not very practical as it was difficult to control the water's temperature. During the 1920s, kerosene water heater tanks heated water, complimenting the pressurised water systems which emerged. Later came electric water heaters which are still widely used today. However, as both the gas and electric fired water heaters require a fair amount of energy to run, the invention of tankless water heaters were welcome, for they do not require large quantities of water to be heated and require less energy to run. Electricity or gas Tankless water heaters are available as electric or gas. The electric tankless heaters require 240 volts of electricity to run. Unless you can either upgrade your house's electrical system or have access to this service, then this type of tankless heater will not work for you. The other option is the gas-powered tankless water heater. This type of heater will require proper venting as well as be installed by a licensed gas technician.

Consider the location

The location of the tankless heater must be considered, such as where you need hot water in your house. Several styles of tankless heaters are available: small ones for a per sink basis, large ones for an entire room, or larger ones still which heat the water for an entire house or apartment or unit. These water heater prices vary according to both the size and the type (i.e. electric or gas).

Amount of water and temperature needed

The tankless heaters vary according to the amount of water they are able to heat. The smaller tankless heaters are able to heat one to three gallons of water per minute while the larger ones are able to provide water simultaneously to more than one fixture at once. You will also need to consider the temperature at which the tankless heater is able to produce. Some heaters provide a rise of 50 degrees F above the temperature of the water provided while others have a more modest rise.