The ABC’s of Plumbing – How Tankless Water Heaters Work

Tankless water heaters heat water in a similar way as conventional water heaters, except they don’t store the heated water. Instead, they heat the water only when it’s needed. This eliminates the energy required to keep a supply of heated water fully heated.

When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water is drawn into the water heater. A sensor detects the flow and activates a gas burner, which warms a heat exchanger. The flow of cold water circulated around the heat exchanger and exits the water heater at its set-point temperature.

By heating water only when needed, rather than maintaining a full tank of hot water at all times, tankless water heaters operate with greater efficiency than standard tank-type water heaters.

In addition to greater efficiency, tankless water heaters will last about five to 10 years longer than a conventional tank heater. They also take up much less space and provide you with an unlimited amount of hot water.

On the downside, a tankless system can cost up to three times as much as a tank-style heater and are more complicated to install than traditional water heaters.

Have questions about tankless water heaters? Call ABC Southwest Plumbing & Air Conditioning. We’re here to help.