| Tankless water heaters have pros and cons, just | | | | of hot water required. For example, you can use |
| like everything else. They can supply an endless | | | | a small electric unit as a booster for a remote |
| supply of hot water, and can save energy. | | | | bathroom or laundry, or in the kitchen for cooking |
| However, they are limited in the amount of hot | | | | and instant coffee etc. |
| water that can be produced at one time and they | | | | Gas units with a standing (constantly burning) pilot |
| are more expensive to purchase than a | | | | light, however, offset some of the savings |
| conventional storage type water heater. | | | | achieved by the elimination of tank standby losses |
| They also make it take longer for you to get | | | | with the energy consumed by the pilot light. |
| your hot water, since they don't start heating the | | | | Moreover, much of the heat produced by the |
| water until you turn on the faucet. This problem | | | | pilot light of a tank-type model heats the water in |
| can be solved by using a demand hot water | | | | the tank, heat that is just lost with the |
| pump, which in combination with the tankless | | | | instantaneous units. |
| heater can get your hot water to you at less | | | | An alternative to the standing pilot light is an |
| than half the time it would take running the faucet | | | | intermittent ignition device. This resembles the |
| full blast, and the pump doesn't run water down | | | | spark ignition device on some gas kitchen ranges |
| the drain, so you save not only time, but water | | | | and ovens. You should check with the |
| as well. | | | | manufacturer for models that have this feature. |
| The tankless water heaters also cause an | | | | Small units are usually installed in a closet or |
| increase in water wastage since you have to let | | | | underneath a sink, and are usually electric due to |
| the water run longer to get your hot water. This | | | | the difficulties involved with installing a flue. If the |
| problem is also solved when using the demand | | | | unit is gas, a flue and gas piping will need to be |
| pump. | | | | installed, which can cost a significant amount of |
| Tankless water heaters come in a variety of | | | | money. If electric you will probably need 220 volt |
| sizes for different applications, such as a | | | | service run to the location where the unit will be |
| whole-house tankless water heater, a source for | | | | installed, which can also be some what expensive. |
| a remote bathroom or hot tub, or as a boiler to | | | | Gas-fired models typically have a higher |
| provide hot water for a home heating system. | | | | gallons-per-minute output than electric models. The |
| Tankless hot water heaters are available in | | | | largest gas models, which may provide all the |
| propane (LP), natural gas, or electric models. | | | | needs of an entire household, are usually installed |
| Tankless water heaters can also be used as a | | | | centrally. The flue required will be larger than that |
| booster for dishwashers, washing machines, and | | | | of a gas tank type model. |
| as a backup for solar or wood-fired domestic | | | | As with many tank type models, even the largest |
| systems. | | | | whole house models may not be able to supply |
| You may install one centrally, or you can install | | | | enough for large simultaneous, multiple uses (i.e., |
| one at the point of use, depending on the amount | | | | showers and laundry). |