Tankless water heaters are a popular option with plenty of great benefits. From their more space-efficient design to their energy efficiency benefits, it’s no wonder tankless water heaters continue to be a top choice among homeowners looking to replace an old water heater. But exactly how do they work? Here’s everything you need to know about tankless water heaters to make an informed choice for your home:

The Traditional Water Heater System

To understand how tankless water heaters work, it helps to have a basic understanding of the more traditional water heater system. Traditional water heaters feature a large tank full of water that’s heated to a specific temperature. Once it reaches that temperature, the water heater then continues to heat that water until it’s ready to be used.

When you turn on the hot water tap at your kitchen or bathroom sink or in the shower, hot water is then pulled from the tank. This continues until you’ve drawn as much hot water as you need or until the hot water tank is drained. If the tank is drained, you’ll be out of hot water until the tank is able to refill and heat more water. In most cases, the size of the water heater tank is based on your household’s average hot water usage to avoid running out too often.

How Tankless Water Heaters Work

A tankless water heater eliminates the large tank of hot water and instead provides you with hot water on demand. The hot water is generated instantaneously only when it’s called for. The water is heated using a gas burner or electric element when it’s turned on so that you receive a constant supply of hot water. Since you’re not pulling from a limited supply of hot water, you can enjoy as much or as little hot water as you need. And, because the hot water is generated only when it’s called for, tankless water heaters offer better energy efficiency for your home. This on-demand system for hot water also allows tankless water heaters to last far longer than traditional water heaters, at around 20 years or more for a typical tankless water heater.

It’s important to note that tankless water heaters control the flow rate of the hot water based on how quickly it can be heated. For general use, this typically won’t be an issue. However, if your household calls for multiple sources of hot water at once—for example, when multiple people are taking hot showers and the washing machine is also running at the same time—the water pressure may be affected. However, most households will not notice any effect and will enjoy numerous benefits when opting for a tankless water heater.

Get Started With Tri-State Water, Power & Air

At Tri-State Water, Power & Air, we proudly offer and install tankless water heaters. If you’re interested in having a tankless water heater installed at your home or have questions about how they work, contact us today.