Tankless Water Heaters For Greener Living

Anyone can buy an electric or gas tankless water heater to increase efficiency in your home and cut utility bills. Going green with electric or gas tankless water heaters is more beneficial now than ever before. Consider the fact that standard water heaters store between 40 and 80 gallons of water and keep it heated to an average temperature of 120 degrees. A water heater that is storing this much water and trying to keep it heated even when no one is home or while everyone is sleeping is clearly wasting a substantial amount of energy. Heating water takes approximately 15% of the total energy consumption of the average home. If you buy a gas or electric tankless water heater, also known as an on demand water heater, you cane quickly reduce your monthly utility bills.

The way on demand water heaters work is to provide hot water when it is required on a demand basis. When you turn on the water faucet the water flows through the water heater which quickly heats the water to your desired temperature. Once the demand is stopped the water heating process stops as well. This is a more efficient and greener way of heating water and because the water is being heated only when the faucet is on, there is always hot water without wasting electricity or gas.

If you currently use less than 40 gallons of hot water each day, you can buy a tankless water heater system which can be as much as 35% more efficient than traditional water heaters. If you typically use more hot water, for example twice as much at 80 gallons, the savings aren't quite as high. You can still see a 15% increase in efficiency which is still worth the savings. Your savings can reach up to 50% if every hot water tap in the house is handled with an on demand water heater system. This is clearly a great option for greener living in your home.

If you decide to buy a tankless water heater, the cost will usually be a bit more than traditional water heaters however, this can be recovered quickly in energy savings. High end homes, green homes, and zero energy homes often feature some sort of on demand water heater. Even some newer Habitat for Humanity homes that are focusing more on green living and green building products are featuring tankless or on demand water heater systems.

Many brands are available both in local stores and online. Bosch and Rinnai tankless water heaters are among the best in quality and performance. You can buy a Rinnai or Bosch tankless water heater on Amazon by clicking in the Amazon products on this page. There are many other brands available and there is a link to Plumber's Supply below. Plumber's supply carries many of the best water heater brands and installation accessories.

Many manufacturers are offering various rebates for people who purchase energy efficient products in an effort to be more green. The US Government has also extended the tax credit available for homeowners who install efficient water heaters in existing homes. The tax credit is up to 30% of the cost for homeowners who buy on demand or tankless water heaters. This 30% tax credit has been extended through 2010 for any homeowners who choose an eligible energy efficient product. For eligible products check with your manufacturer, US Department of Energy, or the IRS.

Be sure to follow a few basic guidelines when you decide to buy a tankless water heater. The following are three of the most important things to consider:

Get the right size water heater for your family's demands and usage. On demand water heaters usually have a rating based on the maximum temperature rise it can produce at a specific flow rate.

Consider the minimum flow rate so your water heater does not over heat. Most tankless and on demand units require that a minimum amount of water pass through in a given time period, this ranges from ½ gallon per minute to as much as 2 gallons per minute.

Hire an experienced plumber, installing these on demand water heaters can be quite complex in some instances. Proper configuration and sizing for your home as well as the plumbing, electrical, or gas connections are crucial. If you want to buy a tankless water heater and install it yourself you can get your supplies at Plumber's Surplus for up to 60% off retail prices. If you prefer to have a contractor install it you can contact Calfinder for competing quotes from plumber's in your area.