| If you ever have to stand around waiting for hot | | | | storage type water heater. Demand systems |
| water to reach the fixture, then you are | | | | when used with tankless water heaters save |
| wastefully running water down the drain. By | | | | more water than systems used with conventional |
| investing in a demand system you can reduce the | | | | water heaters. However, not all systems have |
| time it takes for you to get the hot water and | | | | pumps powerful enough to turn on the tankless |
| you won't be running any water down the drain | | | | water heaters which are flow operated. So be |
| while you wait. A demand system pumps the | | | | sure to check with the manufacturer before you |
| heated water to your fixture from your water | | | | make a purchase. |
| heater quickly without running any water down | | | | If you are not sure whether or not a demand |
| the drain. | | | | pump will provide faster water to more than one |
| Not only does this save you time and money, but | | | | fixture, there is a way to figure it out. Choose |
| you will be helping to reduce the amount of | | | | the fixture where you think the demand pump |
| greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. | | | | should be located. Pick a time when the hot water |
| Greenhouse gases are produced when electricity | | | | has not been used for several hours to be sure |
| is generated. When your drinking water is pumped | | | | the water has all cooled off. Now turn on the hot |
| and processed, and again when the sewage is | | | | faucet until warm water reaches the fixture. At |
| treated, the energy used releases greenhouse | | | | this point you have simulated the operation of a |
| gases into the atmosphere when it is generated. | | | | demand pump at that location, heated water |
| By saving water you reduce the amount of | | | | reached the fixture and it shut off. |
| energy consumed and thus reduce greenhouse | | | | Now you can measure how long it takes to get |
| gas emissions. | | | | hot water at any other fixture. By comparing that |
| If your home uses a septic system, a demand | | | | time to how long it normally takes when the |
| hot water system can substantially reduce the | | | | piping is cold, you can see how much faster you |
| amount of water passing through the system. | | | | would get your it. This should help you make your |
| You save not only water, but you reduce the | | | | decision. |
| load on the septic system as well. If you have a | | | | If it turns out that your demand system pump |
| well, you will reduce the energy used by the | | | | will save you time and water at more than one |
| pumping. | | | | fixture, then you will need to either run a pair of |
| If your major uses of heated water happen to | | | | wires from the alternate fixture to the pump, or |
| be very close to your water heater, and only | | | | use a remote control to turn the pump on from |
| rarely if ever do you need to wait for your hot | | | | any secondary fixtures. |
| water, then you probably don't need a demand | | | | Most demand system manufactures offer some |
| system. If however, your water heater is on one | | | | form of remote control for such situations. Also |
| end of your house, and your master bath is on | | | | keep in mind that you will need to install an |
| the other end of the house, then you could really | | | | electrical outlet under the sink if there isn't already |
| use one. | | | | one there to plug the pump into. And finally, check |
| Tankless water heaters take longer to get hot | | | | with your local water district to see if there are |
| water to the fixture, since the water needs to be | | | | any rebates that could be applied to the purchase |
| inside the tankless heater for a certain amount of | | | | of a demand hot water system. There are a |
| time to get hot. If you have a tankless water | | | | number of water districts that offer such rebates. |
| heater you waste more water than if you had a | | | | |