Tankless Water Heater
http://livingindryden.org/images/home/newWaterHeater03062006B.jpg
The tankless water heater design means that water is heated instantly when needed, not like conventional water heaters that heat water all day every day.
Conventional Heaters with a tank do run out of water eventually if a shower is in use for too long. Tankless water heaters however never run out of hot water since it is produced on demand!
Energy savings of up to 50% can be realized, because there is no need to store hot water.
Water heating accounts for 20-30% of energy use in the average home.
It has been reported that if wasteful tank heaters were replaced with high-efficiency tankless models, North American society could annually save:
· 290 million gallons of fuel oil a year;
· 164 million gallons of propane or
· 6 billion hours of kilowatt electricity
http://www.enviroharvest.ca/demand_hot_water.htm
Downside of Tanks:
- Constantly heat and re-heat water
- Lasts between 5-12 years
- 80% efficiency the first year and then declines as heater ages.
- Average energy factor of .58
- Heats water only when needed.
- Lasts for a lifetime.
- 99%+ efficiency for life of heater.
- Energy factor of .98+
Benefits of Tankless: