tankless water heaters Why should your water be heated all the time rather than only when you need it to be heated? That is the concept behind tankless water heaters; that is, heating water only on demand. These heaters can be installed in the same place as your traditional water heater and they are typically smaller in size, resulting in a space savings. Or, multiple tankless water heaters could be installed in different areas of the home. The upfront costs to install are greater because of the changes needed to be made to existing plumbing and gas/electrical connections. However, Merck adds that the overall cost savings are marginal.
“The highest rated tankless systems are 98% efficient as compared to 67% efficient for new, traditional storage hot water heaters. For example, a typical annual hot water cost for a four-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot home might be $350 per year with a traditional storage tank; with a tankless heater, you might see the annual cost drop to $300 a year. Like other mechanical systems, they do tend to wear out in 10-15 years, he says. Another potential drawback, he adds, is that it could take longer for the hot water to reach the proper temperatures, particularly on the upper levels of a home.
ABOVE: This tankless water heater is tucked inconspicuously into the laundry room. Photos courtesy of Rinnai OPPOSITE PAGE: This insulation is a climate-friendly, light density spray foam made from castor oil. Photo courtesy of Icynene
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