TANKLESS HOT WATER HEATERS can decrease energy usage by 10 to 20%!

Save money with greater efficiency!

Most people in North America currently use a storage tank water heater to provide hot water in their homes. A storage tank water heater keeps water hot 24-hours a day, even while you’re at work or sleeping. A tankless hot water heating system, on the other hand, does not store hot water. It heats the water as you use it. Efficiency is higher than most tank type water heaters.

Below are some Commonly Asked Questions about Tankless Systems:

What are the advantages of a tankless system?
A tankless water heater also known as point of use water heater or on demand units, turns on when you open a hot water faucet and turns off when you close the faucet, so the energy that is consumed is only for the hot water that is being used. Since there is no storage of hot water and thus no constant heating and re-heating of stored hot water, you’re not wasting energy heating water when you don’t need it, such as when you’re sleeping or not at home. This energy savings translates to dollar savings for you and reduced impact on our environment. Furthermore, since a tankless water heater heats the water as you use it, you can have an endless supply of hot water, provided you size the unit appropriately. Tankless water heaters are also designed to last for 20 years and are smaller than tank units.

How do they work?
When a hot water tap is opened, the cold water enters the heater and triggers the heating elements or burners to turn on. Your hot water tap acts as an ignition key for the energy used to heat the hot water you need. The water is then heated as it flows through the heating elements or heat exchanger. As you change the water flow, a water valve or thermostat controls the heating elements or burner flame to maintain a constant temperature. The amount of energy used is always proportional to the volume of hot water being used. When the hot water tap is turned off, the system shuts down. The water temperature can be adjusted to produce outlet temperatures ranging from 100° to 140° F.
How can a tankless water heater heat water instantly? When you open a faucet, the flow of the water triggers the heater to turn on. Whether you use gas or electricity, the powerful gas burners or electrical elements will turn on, rapidly heating the water as it passes through the unit. The water is heated instantly, and the time it takes to obtain hot water is directly related to the distance the hot water has to travel from the water heater to where hot water is being used. The burners or elements then shut down when you shut off the hot water. The energy that is consumed is only for the hot water that is being used.

How much money can I save?
Depending on which model of tankless water heater you purchase, and what size storage tank you have now, and if it runs on gas or electricity, you could save anywhere from 11% to 69% off your hot water heating bill. How? Most homes use hot water for a cumulative total of about one hour per day, yet they typically keep 40 or 50 gallons (oftentimes more) of water hot 24 hours a day. Having a system that eliminates the storage and heats water only as you use it can dramatically reduce your energy consumption.
 
Can it really provide an endless supply of hot water?
Yes. Because storage tank water heaters store a finite amount of water, when that amount is used up your shower goes cold and you have to wait for the heater to heat the water back up (this is known as recovery time). Because a tankless water heater heats the water as it passes through the heater, you can never run out, provided flow limitations are not exceeded.
Are there other benefits of a tankless water heater?
There are many advantages of having a tankless water heater in your home. Besides the money savings, endless hot water and smaller impact on the environment, a tankless water heater:

• Is very small and can hang on the wall, thereby saving you valuable floor space.
• Expected life of a tankless water heater is 20 years, compared with 10 and 15 years for tank-type water heaters.
• Is almost entirely recyclable, so if you ever decide to replace it, it doesn’t have to go to the landfill.
• Will not develop a corrosive leak like a storage tank water heater, saving you from expensive water damage in your home.
• Maintains its efficiency throughout the lifetime of the unit. Storage tank water heaters decrease in efficiency over time due to mineral build-up inside the tank. This is due to the fact that storage tank water heaters store hot water, giving those minerals a chance to settle out and bake from the heat onto the walls of the tank, and onto the heating element in electrical models, thereby reducing heat transfer.

Will I still get the hot shower I’m used to now?
Yes, provided you buy the right tankless heater for you. Tankless water heaters are able to function at a variety of temperatures that you can choose, and can produce hot water at the same flow rate as your standard single-headed shower provides now (since 1992 all showerheads are designed to deliver a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute, as mandated by federal legislation).

Will one tankless water heater do my entire house?
Yes. You must choose the size model to suit your home’s hot water needs, which is based upon the maximum flow of hot water you need at any one time.

What if I have very hard water?
Since tankless water heaters do not store hot water, minerals do not have as much of a chance to settle onto the heater. Therefore, you won’t see the same corrosive or scale build-up problems with tankless water heaters that you do with storage tank water heaters. And it is fine to use a water softener with a tankless water heater, if you choose.

What limitations do tankless water heaters have?
Because this type of water heater heats the water as you use it, the volume of hot water that it can deliver is directly correlated to the amount of its energy input. The bigger the burners or heating elements in the unit, the higher the volume of hot water that it can deliver. Today tankless water heaters come in various sizes to suit most homes’ needs. Even if you need to be operating multiple showers at once, tankless water heaters can keep up

How do I properly size a tankless water heater for my home?
You need to choose the model that can deliver the volume of hot water to meet your needs. The best method for sizing this type of water heater is to know how many showers each model can run simultaneously. Models are available that can run either one or two showers at a time. Our most popular sized model is the one that delivers one shower at a time. (Remember, although it will only deliver one shower at a time, it can do so endlessly, shower after shower after shower).

Can I fill a hot tub with a tankless water heater?
Yes. Because tankless water heaters provide an endless supply of hot water, you can fill a tub of any size. It is only a question of time, meaning that a larger units can fill a tub faster than a smaller unit. Keep in mind that some tubs draw water at high flow rates, so it may be necessary to limit the flow so that the tankless water heater can adequately heat the water that is being called for.

Is this a new technology?
No. Europe, Asia and South America, where energy costs are more expensive than here in the U.S., have been using tankless water heaters for 75 years. However, most Americans are just now learning of this technology and its benefits.

Contact John W. Danforth Company to have a tankless hot water heater installed today!

JW Danforth offers tankless hot water heaters in Rochester, Niagara Falls and Buffalo NY.