How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?

Get unlimited hot water and serious energy savings!

How much of your annual household energy use involves heating water? Believe it or not, hot water production is the average U.S. home’s third largest energy expenditure, comprising almost 20% of usage.

Now consider that, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, a tankless water heater can be up to 34% more efficient than a traditional storage tank unit. At TF Complete Heating & Cooling, we are installing more and more tankless (or on-demand) water heaters in Wrentham and throughout Norfolk County. Let us explain why these systems are so efficient and how they can ensure you always have enough hot water to enjoy a relaxing shower, wash your clothes and run the dishwasher.

How are tankless water heaters different from standard units?

When you think of a water heater, you might imagine a tall, cylindrical unit full of water. That is a standard storage tank water heater. It heats (and reheats) a large tank of water for distribution when needed.

Tankless water heaters don’t have a storage tank. Instead, they heat up water only when you need it, using sensors that tell them to turn on when a hot water tap, fixture or appliance turns on.

Standard units have recovery rates, which tell you how quickly they can heat the water in their storage tanks. Tankless units have flow rates, which tell you the peak amount of hot-water demand they can accommodate.

How do tankless water heaters work?

Here is a general breakdown of how a tankless water heater operates:

1. When you use a hot water tap or appliance, your tankless water heater detects the flow, and a sensor determines the amount of hot water you will need.
2. Your unit’s igniter activates. The correct amount of fuel is fed to produce the right intensity of flame.
3. Cold water enters the system and is preheated in the secondary heat exchanger.
4. Preheated water passes from the secondary to the primary heat exchanger.
5. The unit determines outgoing set temperatures and adjusts the flame accordingly.
6. The heated water moves to the buffer tank, and then the desired hot water amount is delivered to you.
7. When your tap or appliance no longer needs hot water, the unit turns off.

How can a tankless water heater improve your quality of life?

When you correctly size your tankless water heater to your home, it can generate virtually unlimited hot water on demand. This ends the days of showers running cold unexpectedly.

Tankless systems also eliminate “standby losses,” or the fuel that traditional units burn to reheat unused water in a tank. Eliminating this wasted fuel consumption will considerably lower your energy spending for years to come.

Tankless water heaters have less exposure to corrosive particles in water, which means they tend to have much longer lifespans than storage tank units.

Additionally, these on-demand systems are typically wall-mounted and the size of a suitcase, saving you around 12 square feet of floor space.

More compact, better hot water production, longer lifespan and lower energy bills — that’s a lot of benefits for one piece of home equipment!

Let Tom Fricker upgrade your water heater.

When you come to TF Complete Heating & Cooling for your water heater installation project, our team of HVAC experts will look at your existing equipment and discuss your hot water needs to find the perfect product. If you want to go tankless, we’ll look at your home’s water temperature and the peak hot water demand from your fixtures and appliances and identify a tankless water heater with the right flow rate to meet your needs.

Contact our office to receive a free estimate today.