Tankless water heaters are energy efficient because they only heat water as it is needed. You are probably using a traditional storage water heater that keeps forty or fifty gallons of water heated on a regular basis. If you would not leave your home's heating system running while you are away all day at work or out of town on a vacation, why would you continue to heat a large amount of water that is simply standing idly when you are not there to use it?



The way that a tankless water heater works is that the water is heated directly. When you turn on the hot water tap in your kitchen or bathroom, the cold water travels through a pipe into the tankless unit. If your unit is gas fired, a gas burner heats the water. If it is electric, an electric element heats the water. The result is that you have a constant supply of hot water delivered to you as you need it, typically at a rate of two to five gallons per minute, or 7.6 to 15.2 liters per minute. A gas fired tankless unit will produce a higher flow rate than one powered by electricity.

But this method for heating water in your home is definitely not for everyone. Some of the smaller models of this type of water heater simply cannot supply enough hot water for a large family with simultaneous activities going on. If you are running your dishwasher while someone is trying to take a shower, for example, a tankless heater for your water will be stretched to its limit.

There are some ways to overcome this problem that you may not even know about, because your plumbing company did not take the time to explain it to you fully. One way is to install a double unit, which consists of two tankless water heating units, connected in a parallel configuration for simultaneous hot water demand. Another option is to install a separate heater for your large appliances - dishwashers, washing machines, and other large water usage machines - and another one for your kitchen and bathrooms. That will allow everyone in the family to have access to the hot water they need at exactly the time they need it.

You will want to consult with your plumbers to find out what options make the most sense for you. If you do decide to install a tankless water heating system in your home, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are being energy efficient while also saving money on your plumbing system.