Types Of Tankless Hot Water Heaters

Hybrid tankless hot water heaters are considered tankless because they offer the option of running the entire system on demand like the tankless hot water heaters. However, hybrids are not tankless hot water heaters, as they do have a tank that the unit sits on top of that can still be used as a traditional tanked water heater.

Tankless hot water heaters are exactly that: tankless. They do not have a storage tank that your energy will be used to keep the additional water hot. Tankless hot water heaters give hot water only when the hot tap is turned on. This means there is no tank for cold water to sit in and wait to be heated. The tankless hot water heaters have a unit that operates by using coils to heat the water as it is flowing through the water lines to the tap. Natural gas or propane tankless hot water heaters offer users more flexibility in how they are used, but require no venting at all. Electric tankless hot water heaters do not require venting, but over the life of the unit, will cost more to operate than gas or propane.

Point of Use Tankless Hot Water Heaters

Point of use tankless hot water heaters create hot water at the time the tap is turned on only. The unit will continue to create and warm water until the tap is turned off. Tankless hot water heaters are small in size and will normally fit under a cabinet or even in a closet. The point of use tankless hot water heaters are normally used strictly for one purpose; whether it is a shower or dishwasher, washing machine or one sink depends on the homeowner.

Whole House Tankless Hot Water Heaters

Whole house tankless units can create more hot water for more than one appliance or area at a time. One unit could easily handle a dishwasher, sink and shower at the same time. Whole house tankless hot water heaters should be purchased and used if there is more than one person living in a home, or more than one type of hot water use will be used at the same time normally. Whole house units are expensive even without installation, but will service the entire home instead of only a few small areas.

The up side to tankless hot water heaters is that there are options for using only one small unit or a home sized unit and this can save money. The down side to tankless hot water heaters is that the cost to initially purchase may be higher than the average hot water unit.