Water Heaters

Tankless and Heat Pump Water Heaters

Over the course of normal use, traditional water heaters are subject to corrosion, which, even with proper service, typically limits their usable life to 10 - 15 years before the unit needs to be replaced. Homeowners facing such a move should evaluate whether more recent technology is a good fit for their needs. In some situations, newer tankless water heaters or heat pump water heaters can help homeowners save money by lowering their energy costs.

Conventional water heaters are tank-based, typically using an electric resistance element to heat the water in a large tank. As long as the tank's capacity exceeds the demands placed on it, this is a reliable source of hot water for the home. The weakness of this system is the need to keep such a large quantity of water hot at all times. Energy is lost, especially in cold weather, because the unit is always on. The heating element will also wear out eventually, requiring replacement. While traditional systems are likely to remain popular, homeowners should consider whether an alternative system might be more cost effective.

Tankless heaters eliminate the energy loss associated with traditional systems by heating water only as it is needed in the home. When a hot water tap is turned on, a gas burner or an electric element starts heating the water as it passes through the unit. These systems can provide on-demand, continuous domestic hot water at a rate sufficient for many situations. The tradeoff, compared with conventional hot water tanks, is in peak flow capacity. Since tankless heaters do not have a large quantity of hot water in reserve, homeowners should make sure to choose a unit with an ample flow rating for their needs. Gas-fired tankless heaters tend to have higher flow rates than electric ones. In some cases, it may be necessary to install multiple units in parallel, or specifically to serve high-demand appliances. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, demand water heaters can be 8%-14% more energy efficient in homes that use a lot of hot water daily (~86 gallons), and 24%-34% more efficient in homes that use 41 gallons or less. These savings can in some cases well offset the additional cost of an on-demand system.

Heat pump water heaters are another viable alternative for homeowners looking to save money on energy costs. Rather than generating heat directly, heat pump water heaters work like a refrigerator in reverse, moving heat from the surrounding air into the water tank. Consequently, they operate best in places with excess heat, and need to be installed in locations that stay between 40 and 90 degrees fahrenheit year-round. They have the effect of moderating the temperature in the spaces that they are installed. Combination air-source systems can be configured to pull air from the outdoors in the winter, and from indoors in the summer. Geothermal heat pumps are popular in some areas.

Both tankless and heat pump water heaters generally require the assistance of a licensed professional to install. Contact us for a free consultation to see if one of these systems could save you money.