Hey, Craig. . . Tanks or no tanks?
with Craig Hendrickson Marke ng Specialist & Residen al Energy Auditor
P
eople frequently ask, “What’s up with these tankless water heaters?” No doubt they are looking for ways to save on their
energy bills. Who can blame them? On average, hea ng water makes up 18% of our household energy cost.
Some manufacturers of tankless water heaters claim the consumer will save 30% - 50%, but research I have studied reports the average realized savings is only about $30 per year on electric units.
If you are like me, savings of any amount is a good thing, but maybe not so good when you contemplate the payback. Gas tankless units cost an average of $2000 (installed) compared to $870 (50 gallon, installed) for a conven onal storage-tank water heater. You might want to consider the return on investment before you make this purchase. It should also be noted that parts are s ll diffi cult to acquire for tankless hot water units and fi nding someone to service them can be a struggle.
Energy usage for the average home in the United States.
www.energy.gov
Tankless water heaters (also known as on-demand water heaters) have been on the market for quite some me and off er a lot of savings promise, but they have two key problems: keeping up with demand for hot water and maintenance.
There are two types of tankless water heater, gas-fi red and electric. If you decide a tankless heater will fi t your needs, steer clear of the electric models. I know Northeast Oklahoma Electric is in the market to sell electricity, but you should receive the most from your hard-earned dollars.
One of the down sides to an electric unit is they require 120 amps to operate. Since most homes only have a 100- to 200- amp service for the en re home, you would, in most cases, need to increase the service amperage. The expense to have a licensed electrician upgrade your service can be a signifi cant expense and is not included in average installed costs quoted by manufacturers.
Generally, an electric tankless heater will supply 2 areas of the home at one me, such as a shower and dishwasher. A gas model will usually supply up to 3 areas at one me. This might work for a re red couple, but probably not for an ac ve family.
8 - NE Connection
A tankless water heater begins making hot water instantly, but the water must s ll travel to the desired des na on, so it is not an “instant hot water” device. The excep on would be if the tankless water heater is located next to the faucet you are using. Some homeowners install a unit for every bathroom, the kitchen and the laundry for instant hot water, but that is an expensive solu on. Addi onally, homeowners may fi nd the hea ng element does not kick on if the water is run at a low stream as one might use for shaving or washing hands.
If you are looking for ways to improve the effi ciency of your conven onal tank-type water heater, consider these sugges ons:
Effi ciency concerns associated with a tank-type water heater is the heat lost through the walls of the tank due to the lack of insula on. This can be improved substan ally by installing an insula ng blanket made specifi cally for hot water tanks. These are an inexpensive improvement, generally cos ng around $20.00. There are blankets specifi cally for gas and electric heaters; make sure you purchase the correct one. While you are at the hardware store, go ahead and pick up a length of side-split pipe insula on to install over the cold-water intake pipe and the hot-water outlet pipe of the tank.
Do not rest an electric tank-type water heater directly on a concrete pad as the heat in the tank will conduct rapidly into the concrete and force the unit to kick on much more o en. Pads made from thick high-density foam add the needed insula on when placed between the concrete fl oor and the bo om of the tank and is the norm in many parts of the country. You might also consider adjus ng the thermostat(s) down to 120 degrees for even be er energy effi ciency. ●
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