Save Energy and Lower Your Monthly Bill With a Demand Water Heater

If you are planning a home remodeling project in your kitchen or bathroom, consider installing a demand water heater. Demand heaters, also known as tankless, instantaneous, or inline heaters, are a terrific way to save energy and money for any household. With standard water heaters, a whole tank of water is heated continuously, ready to provide hot water whenever you need it. Demand heaters don't use a tank. When the hot water tap is turned on, cold water flows through the pipes and is heated by a gas burner or electric heating element.

Benefits of Demand Water Heating: Compared to conventional storage or tank water heaters, demand heaters offer a limitless supply of hot water. You'll never again have the unpleasant experience of running out of hot water and waiting for the tank to refill! Unlike standard water heaters, homeowners don't concern themselves that the water heater will break and flood adjacent areas. While demand heaters may seem exotic in the U.S., they are used all over Europe.

Gas vs. Electric: One of the limitations of demand water heaters is that they typically have a lower flow rate than standard heaters, although gas heaters offer better flow rates than electric. The low flow rate is problematic if a household needs hot water for multiple purposes at the same time, such as showering and running the dishwasher. You can avoid this pitfall during your home renovation by installing two demand heaters or dedicating a separate heater to appliances that use a lot of hot water, such as the washing machine or dishwasher.

Gas demand heaters use pilot lights, which can reduce the device's energy efficiency. If you are considering a gas water heater, compare different models to figure out which lose the least energy. Some models also offer an intermittent ignition device, similar to a spark ignition device on a gas stove, which only turns on the pilot light when hot water is needed.

Energy Savings: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that use less than 41 gallons a day can improve their energy efficiency 24-34 percent compared to using a conventional tank heater. For homes that use more water - up to 86 gallons daily - demand heaters can be 8-14 percent more efficient. Installing a demand heater at each of a house's hot water outlets would save even more: 27-50 percent.

Joaquin Erazo, Jr. is the senior vice president of marketing and public relations at Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. Find a home remodeling company near you!

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(c) 2010 Joaquin Erazo, Jr