Seems like there are many reasons for liking energy efficient tankless hot water heaters! I'll review the pros and cons, but you will have to make the final decision as to whether or not they're for you.
For the most part they have a longer life expectancy, save money, save energy, take less space, and have an endless supply of hot water.
First there is the life expectancy. Make sure that you figure this when you are doing your calculations. The life span for a regular hot water tank type heater will probably be about 10 to 12 years. Of course there are factors that will change that, such as the quality of your water. The life expectancy of a energy efficient tankless water heater will be closer to the 20 year range. And I did find some with a limited lifetime warranty.
There seem to be a lot of numbers floating around as to the amount of savings. The energy efficient tankless water heater could be as much as 40% more energy efficient, depending upon who you believe and your personal use. The standard water heater keeps water at a staedy temperature and is always reheating the water. The tankless, also known as “on demand” type of water heater only heats water when it is needed. Consider the savings if you went on vacation or even if you didn't normally use hot water for many hours.
The space saved is an additional benefit. Because they're mounted on the wall, they do not use any floor space, and they can be mounted closer to the point of use. This gives you a great deal more flexibility when choosing a location. You may also want to consider having more than one. For instance, if you had a remote area with minimal use, you could use a smaller unit. This would take some of the load off of the main heater, plus put the water closer to the point of use.
The endless supply of hot water is a big benefit for big. There is nothing worse than being the person in the shower when the hot water is gone! And naturally it seems to take forever before there is hot water again.
There may also be a federal tax credit of $300. The water heater would have to have an efficiency rating of .80 minimum to be eligible. All units will not qualify.
You can also check to see if you qualify for any state or local incentives or rebates. Go to www.dsireusa.org to check.
This sounds great. But are there any drawbacks?
First there's your ground water temperature. If your ground water is very cold, it may require a much bigger heater to do the job. The cooler water restricts the flow rate.
Some water heaters need a large discharge system. This may make it hard to deal with if you are installing in an older home or business. They are better suited to new construction.
There have been complaints of the time required to get hot water to the point of use. I am not sure about your situation, but the only way that I get hot water immediately is if it has already been running. So you may have to wait anyway.
This is probably a job better left to the pros. Most water heaters will require licensed installers to keep you from voiding the warranty.
Only you can decide if energy efficient tankless water heaters are best for you. You should contact an installer. He should have a lot of questions about your use, location, ground water temperature, and what you are paying now. He should be able to review his calculations with you and show you how he arrived at his conclusions.
Just remember that they're trying to sell units. Make sure that you're satisfied with the dealer and the calculations. It may be better for you if they sold both types. That way you could see the difference between a newer more energy efficient conventional water heater and the new energy efficient tankless water heaters!


Bob Willoughby is the publisher of
http://EnergyEfficientHomeTips.net.
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Energy Efficient Tankless Water Heaters