Tankless Hot Water Heaters – Save Energy and Space

No one wants to wake up to a cold shower in the morning. If your hot water heater isn’t doing the job, is showing signs of age and deterioration, or if you are interested in making energy efficient improvements to your home, a tankless hot water heater may be for you.


Tankless hot water heaters heat water on an “as needed” basis, instead of using energy around the clock to maintain a tank of hot water. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water is drawn into the water heater, where a flow sensor activates a gas burner. The water is heated by flowing around a heat exchanger that is warmed by the gas burner.

Benefits of a tankless hot water heater are a savings in energy costs by heating water only when you need it. There’s not just one tank full of hot water, the tankless heater keeps heating the flow of water until it’s turned off, so you never run out of hot water. You’ll have less maintenance, without the need to flush sediment out of a tank periodically.

Tankless hot water heaters are space savers. Gas tankless water heaters are wall mounted, and some are even designed for outdoor installation, which frees up space in your garage or basement. They have a life expectancy of 20 years, without the risk of a tank springing leak and potential water damage.

If you act quickly, you can take advantage of a tax benefit through the end of 2010. Energy Star rated tankless water heaters are eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the cost – up to $1,500 throughout 2010.