EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TANKLESS WATER HEATERS

BIG BEAR’STANKLESS WATER HEATERBUYER’S GUIDE:

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Big Bear's Tankless Buyer’s Guide: Everything You Should Know About Tankless Water Heaters

By reading the Tankless Buyer's Guide: Everything You Should Know About Tankless

Water Heaters eBook, you will learn about:

ü The history of tankless water heaters

ü The benefits of todays tankless technology

ü The different types of tankless water heaters ü How to maintain your new tankless heating systemü What to expect in equipment and energy savingsü …and much more!

History of the Tankless Water Heater

It may be a surprise to know tankless water heating was actually in use nearly 20 years before

the first storage tank water heater. In 1868, an Englishman named Benjamin Waddy Maughan

created “The Geyser,” a tankless water heating system that took Europe by storm.

The Maughan system had cold water flowing in through wires at the top that then were heated

by hot gases from a burner at the bottom. This first tankless heater had no exhaust flue to vent

the hot gas, so it ended up a little stinky in the room.

Early Drawbacks with Tankless Water Heating

Tankless water heaters were originally great big bulky steel cylinders that sat on the floor. They

also were generally attached to a single sink or tub, and if you needed to replace any part you’d

end up replacing the entire unit.

Tankless water heating didn’t gain popularity in the United States until after World War II –

electricity and fuel gas was inexpensive for storage tank water heaters, and tankless units were

still relatively unchanged from the Maughan model of the 1860s. With some technological

developments and innovations, however, the tankless water heater has developed into a

slender machine that hangs on the wall in practically any room of your home.

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INSIDE THIS BUYERS GUIDE Modern Tankless Water Heating Benefits .................................................................................................................... 4

Today’s Tankless Water Heater .................................................................................................................................. 4

Tankless Water Heating Operations ........................................................................................................................... 4

Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters ..............................................................................................................................4

Choosing the Right Tankless Water Heater for You ...................................................................................................... 6

Tankless Water Heater Types .....................................................................................................................................6

Caring For Your Tankless Water Heater ......................................................................................................................... 7

Types of Tankless Water Heating Maintenance........................................................................................................ .7

Are Tankless Water Heaters Worth the Investment? .....................................................................................................8

Energy Savings with Tankless Water Heaters .............................................................................................................8

Equipment Savings with Tankless Water Heaters .................................................................................................... ..8

Tankless Water Heating FAQs ..................................................................................................................................... ..9

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MODERN TANKLESS WATER HEATING BENEFITS

Tankless water heating has come a long way since Maughan’s invention all those years ago.

Modern tankless heaters use computer boards and sensors that tell the machine when hot

water is needed, as well as what temperature the water should be.

No longer the bulky steel cylinders of yesteryear – modern tankless water heaters are a strong

alternative to a floor-eating and energy-wasting storage tank model.

TODAY’S TANKLESS WATER HEATER

A tankless water heater is precisely what it says it is – a hot water heater that doesn’t have a

storage tank. There are many benefits to having a tankless water heater as opposed to a

version with a tank, not least of which being that tankless units take up much less space than

the tank variety. You can also install multiple tankless heaters if you have high demand in your

home, or even give each appliance its own. But how do they work?

TANKLESS WATER HEATING OPERATIONS

Tankless water heaters operate roughly the same way the tank variety do, except the tankless

machine only heats water as it's needed. When you turn on a hot water tap somewhere in the

house, cold water flows through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric

element then heats the water. Once you turn off the hot water tap, the unit shuts down.

BENEFITS OF TANKLESS WATER HEATERS Tankless water heaters, on average, offer many benefits over the traditional storage variety.

Whether you’re looking for a smaller heater or simply need something for a remote location,

here are some reasons to consider a tankless water heater over a traditional model:

Energy Savings: Tankless water heaters can reach up to a 98% efficiency rate.

More Space: Most tankless water heaters are the size of your average carry-on suitcase

and can hang on practically any interior or exterior wall, which gives you a large section

of floor space back.

Endless Supply of Hot Water: Because there’s no storage tank to wait for, you’ll enjoy

an endless supply of hot water that your tankless heater provides on demand.

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Peace of Mind: The lack of a storage tank also means you don’t have to worry about

cracking or water leaking out onto your floor, except in cases where a pipe breaks.

Great for Home Resale: Tankless water heaters increase the resale value of your home

because they’re viewed as a modern convenience and have such a long lifespan.

No Sediment or Odors: Since there’s no storage tank, you don’t have to worry about

sediment build up or any sort of rusty odor coming out into your water.

Longer Life, Better Warranties: The average storage tank water heater lasts 12 years,

while a tankless model can operate for 20 years or more. This offers up tremendous

savings because you’re not replacing a water heater as often.

Consistency in Temperature: Tankless water heaters bring water up to the same

temperature every time, so you don’t have to worry about any temperature spikes if

your water is heated too hot.

No Flooding: Tankless water heaters don’t leak water when they need repairs because

there’s no full storage tank to deal with.

Return on Initial Investment: The average cost of a tankless water heater is between

$3,000 and $5,000 for full installation. Over the course of the 20-year life of the

appliance, however, you can expect to save up to $7,000. Between saving money by no

longer having to repair a traditional water heater, as well as keeping energy costs low,

you will surely get the money back on what you paid for a tankless heater.

BENEFITS OF TANKLESS WATER HEATERS CONTINUED

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Point-of-Use Tankless Water Heater: The point-of-use tankless heater comes in twovarieties: single point and multiple point. A single-point tankless water heater is used to

Thermostatic Tankless Water Heater: A thermostatic tankless water heater is designed

to keep water at a consistent temperature when it has to travel long distances. Think of

a series of hot water heaters in the basement of a school needing to pump hot water all

over the building. This is a clear case where the water might lose its heat before it

reaches the fixture that needs hot water, and is when a thermostatic water heater is

needed. Perfect for commercial applications!

Whole-House Indoor Tankless Water Heater: The whole-house indoor tankless water

heater is designed to serve as the central water heating element for an entire home.

These are generally installed on interior walls in a basement, laundry room, or

bathroom.

Whole-House Outdoor Tankless Water Heater: Much like an indoor whole-house

system, an outdoor tankless water heater is used to generate hot water for an entire

home with multiple points of use. The key difference here is that you place the hot

water heater outside, which negates the need for a vent to the outdoors. Whole-house

outdoor heaters are common in homes with no basement in warmer climates.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TANKLESS WATER HEATER FOR YOU It’s an understandable mistake, when talking about tankless water heaters, to imagine that

there’s only one type. Unlike the tanked water heater, where there really is only one style,

there are multiple variations of the tankless water heater.

TANKLESS WATER HEATER TYPES

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TYPES OF TANKLESS WATER HEATING MAINTENANCE

There are two maintenance activities for a tankless water heater: flushing the system and cleaning the intake screens. You must use vinegar, a natural non-toxin, to flush the tankless water heater, as any cleaning chemicals can remain in your plumbing even after thoroughly flushing the system.

To clean the intake screens, unscrew the intake pipes and clean out the screen of any

paper or putty that may have been caught in the wire mesh. This inlet line is typically

the cold-water input pipe, so make sure you take a look here every so often to ensure

it remains clear.

To flush the system, disconnect the power supply from the water heater and close the

main valve handles. Locate the purge port on the cold- and hot-water valves, and

slowly open the drain caps. Continue with the manufacturer’s recommended

procedure for attaching the lines and for specific flushing instructions.

Once flushing is complete, verify the purge port valves are closed and then remove the

lines and re-install the purge port drain caps. Then, and only then, should you restart

the water heater and return to normal operation.

CARING FOR YOUR TANKLESS WATER HEATER

Much like any home appliance, tankless water heaters need to be cleaned and maintained in

order to have a long and useful life. Tankless water heaters can last for well over 20 years if

taken care of properly. The good news here is that tankless water heater maintenance is much

easier than what has to be conducted for traditional storage tank maintenance, which often

involves emptying an entire 50- to 80-gallon tank of water before any maintenance can be conducted.

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ARE TANKLESS WATER HEATERS WORTH THE INVESTMENT? One of the perpetual questions about tankless water heating is whether it’s worth the higher

cost versus installing a traditional water heater with a storage tank. The average cost of both

can be vastly different depending on parts and labor, geography, and even the basic equipment

itself. These costs can run up to $5,000 for a tankless water heater, which ends being about

twice as much as a storage tank installation overall. So it’s a valid question: is it worth the cost?

ENERGY SAVINGS WITH TANKLESS WATER HEATERS

Tankless water heaters are by and large 22% to 34% more efficient than storage tank water

heaters. This places them at roughly 96% to 98% efficient, which is much better than the 65%

average with storage tank water heaters. You’ll also no longer have to deal with standby heat

losses generated by having a full 50- to 80-gallon tank of hot water sitting around all day staying

warm.

Over the 20-year lifespan of a tankless water heater, which is eight years longer than a

traditional model, you can save at least $100 per year on energy costs. This is roughly $2,400

over the 20 years you’ll own the water heater – simply by eliminating standby losses!

EQUIPMENT SAVINGS WITH TANKLESS WATER HEATERS

The longer lifespan of a tankless water heater has another benefit – lower overall replacement

costs. A storage tank water heater lasts anywhere from 8-12 years, depending on ambient conditions, so you could end up paying for two to three traditional storage heaters in the time it takes for one tankless water heater to need replacement. This isn’t even considering that the average conventional water heater has a 6-year warranty, while a tankless warranty runs to 12 years in most cases – double the coverage!

Tankless water heaters have a much higher up-front cost than tank water heaters, but certainly will save more money on energy savings and equipment costs with just a little more paid up front in the long run. Not to mention, if you some day consider selling your home, tankless heaters will contribute in higher resale value!

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TANKLESS WATER HEATING FAQS

Q: What is the difference in efficiency rate between a conventional water heater and a

tankless water heater?

A: Believe it or not, a conventional tank heater uses over 100-year-old technology that puts its

efficiency rate between 60-65%. A tankless water heater’s rate, on the other hand, is 86-98%.

Q: What is the life expectancy of a tankless water heater?

A: A tankless water heater’s life expectancy is over 20 years, while a traditional water heater

has an average lifespan of 8 to 12 years.

Q: Why are tankless water heaters sometimes called “on-demand” heaters?

A: Tankless water heaters are referred to as “on-demand” heaters because water is heated

only at your request. This means tankless water heaters only burn fuel intermittently. If you are

using a traditional tank water heater, you are paying to heat and reheat water even when

you’re not using the hot water!

Q: Is it true that heating water costs more as a traditional tank ages?

A: Unfortunately, yes. As tank heaters age, the cost to heat water rises with sediment buildup.

Because tankless water heaters have no storage tank, there is no collection of sediment at the

bottom of a tankless water heater, which also makes for cleaner water than a traditional tank.

Q: My tank heater leaks from time to time. Can I expect this from a tankless water heater, as

well?

A: Actually, because tankless water heaters are, in fact, tankless, there’s no possibility of

flooding due to a ruptured tank.