A Tankless Water Heater Comparison

What is a tankless water heater, what is it used for and what should you look for when purchasing one? This tankless water heater comparison will seek to answer these questions.

Tankless water heaters are also known as inline, continuous flow, on demand, instantaneous and instant on water heaters. They do not retain any water but rather heat the water as it passes through the system. They can be installed either throughout the house, which requires one of the larger models, or at different areas in the house known as a point of use. The great thing about them is that they create a continuous flow of hot water, unlike the conventional tank water heaters, so you never have to worry about running out of hot water.

As a tankless water heater comparison we can distinguish primarily between the point of use tankless water heater and the larger central tankless water heater. The point of use heaters are placed exactly where the water will be used, saving water by ensuring that it is instantly hot. They also save more energy as there will be no hot water left in the pipes after use. While they can be more efficient than the central units, it is important to note that they are commonly used in conjunction with the central units as this creates a greater cost saving advantage than trying to purchase point of use units for every room in the house.

When making a tankless water heater comparison, take note of the following: the unit can be either modulated or full on/off. This means that either the unit is only able to be switched on and off as in full on/off units, or the unit modulates the output of heat based on the flow of water passing through it. You should also take note of whether you are purchasing a point of use or central unit and whether it runs on gas, electricity, or some other power supply.