Due to rising energy costs and people becoming more environmental aware tankless hot water heaters are growing in popularity. They can deliver instant clean hot water on demand and they are relatively simple to install for a qualified professional.

As the name indicates tankless water heaters heat your water without the need of a storage tank. Essential there are 2 types of heater, an electric and a gas powered heater. What fuel type of heater is the first decision you will need to make when considering a tankless water heater.

With an electric heater the water is heated by an electric element and in a gas heater the water is heated with a gas burner. Also with gas heaters you need to establish whether you are using propane or natural gas  and you will also require the correct gas venting. This is usually made of stainless steel, galvanized steel or aluminum. You will need to ensure that you have the right category of venting and that it complys with the manufacturers guidelines for the appliance you are installing

As the water is heated on demand you will never run out of hot water as can happen when the hot water was stored in a tank. The size of your tankless hot water heater is the next thing to consider. On average they supply hot water at approx 2- 5 gallons a minute and you have to decide if you want to supply the whole of the property or have a smaller unit that will heat the water specifically for say the dish washer. The number of people and the number of appliances together with whether they are all using hot water at the same time will be the determining factor in the size you will require for your home.

You can find out more about tankless hot water heaters by clicking here.

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I have a fifth wheel camper with 30amp service. Unfortunately last fall I wasn’t able to winterize my camper in time for a hard freeze and froze and broke the water heater holding tank. Since I have the water heater out now I was thinking it may be time to switch to a tankless rather then replacing the old unit it. Is there a unit that anyone could recommend? Basically all I’m looking for is a hot shower that lasts for a lot longer then the 6 gal heater that was originally in the camper. Any help would be great, thanks.

Well, you may be getting the idea by now, that your idea or dream, of a hot shower that lasts longer than it takes you to get undressed, is so much smoke and mirrors. I’ve been doing water heaters for a long time and as the previous answers said, the only instant water heater that runs on 120 volts, is a small, undersink, point of use unit, that’s used mostly for making instant coffee or tea, maybe a quick wash of the hands. All the larger household sized units require 220/240 volts to operate. As far as I know, not too many camper hookups provide that much juice when you plug in. I thought about gas, but I don’t know if anyone makes one in an LP type. That would be your only hope.

Step one is to hire an energy auditor. We need to turn to the experts, to people who are best at it when we need something done. They could tell you about what is making you poorer by heating and cooling your home as well as other areas.

If you are not sure where they are located then just run a google search. Perhaps you might consider looking up the yellow pages otherwise. These guys have got some high-tech tools which include infrared cameras, pressurizing fans, moisture meters and smoke blowers (or pencils).

He might even get a brand new house fan fitted to the outside doorway. It creates pressure, holding out a smoke pencil could help you understanding where you are becoming poorer. He might want to use a moisture meter to figure out extra moist places of your house. High RH or Relative Humidity can make a home’s inhabitants feel uncomfortable and add to high energy costs.

Second step is to find effective solutions. I have got a problem. You have found a guy to investigate it. Now is the time to fix it. Mostly he is going to suggest solutions. Sometimes you might be able to fix it yourself or at times you might need those experts to do it for you. It may be as simple as caulking gaps on the exterior of the homes siding with a good silicone sealant and adding insulative foam electric outlet sealers to go behind your home’s electrical outlet switch plates with plug in outlet covers to reduce drafts and air loss.

Other more extensive energy saving features may aid in lowering fuel costs as well. Among these are adding attic insulation, Low E glass windows, high SEER HVAC system (13 or better), tankless water heater and Energy Star appliances.

Couple example cases, this place had absolutely no insulation in the walls, though it did have a little insulation at the attic. On pier and beam with hardwood floors, there was no insulation underneath the home as well. On acting on the experts suggestion, believe it or not, the gas and electricity bills dropped down. It’s a perfect way to check your energy efficiency.

This expert is going to help you determine how to modify your house into an energy effective place which conserves energy. She conducted another audit on this one model 2 story with zoned HVAC. There was one heater and an aircon unit at all levels. At this audit, she learned more about the way air flow works. Apparently if you leave the bedroom doors open, then the HVAC is going to work better. So if you get an expert, he is going to help you modify older homes in energy effective, even though they weren’t meant to be that way.

Chris Jensen
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/insider-going-green-energy-tips-595297.html

Have you ever considered replacing your old-fashioned hot water tank with a tankless water heater for your home? Although “instantaneous” or “demand” water heating systems may seem like a novel idea that couldn’t possibly work as effectively as a tank, you may be surprised by the various benefits that have led many homeowners to make the switch. Here are some of the reasons why people prefer the tankless system.

One key reason for making the switch is to save space. At a typical size of 20″x13″x3″, the tankless water heater can free up considerable area in your home for other purposes. A smaller size unit can fit into smaller areas and be less obtrusive than the older style.

Another reason that hot water customers prefer the tankless system is for safety purposes. The smaller unit reduces your risk of getting scalded, since huge amounts of hot water aren’t stored in a tank, but rather are processed as needed. You needn’t worry about an accident or explosion sending gallons of steaming water throughout the area to harm people or pets. Kids won’t be attracted to the inviting spigot, since the unit looks more like a computer than a hot water processor.

An especially significant motivation is the 50% reduced heating costs over using a hot water tank. This is due to the fact that hot water tanks store water that can experience what is called “standby” losses, when heat evaporates through the flue or sides of the tank. Another related benefit is the fact that the tankless systems don’t leak like tanks do, thereby further reducing potentially high costs associated with drips or maintenance. Furthermore, since it doesn’t have a tank that can run out of water, your hot water supply is undiminished. Imagine never having to wait again for a hot bath or shower.

At nearly 100 percent efficiency, a tankless water heater makes good sense. NASA experts make some units, which underscores their reliability. Most of the parts used today are easily replaceable. With almost 200,000 btu/hour, you can plan on having enough hot water available for two or three showers without running low on hot water. Many customers can choose between gas and electric-operated systems.

Possible detracting elements are that you will need to find a service provider who has worked with this type of system and knows how to conduct maintenance and repair for it. Another potential drawback, depending on the quantity of hot water you use at any given time, is that the water may heat more gradually and emerge a little more slowly than you are accustomed to.

Look for tankless hot water system providers in the telephone directory’s yellow pages, or visit online sites that sell these products. Compare benefits as well as disadvantages to both types of systems before making your purchasing decision. If you decide to buy a tankless system, compare prices among several dealers to get the best deal.

Gary Wells
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/the-advantages-of-tankless-water-heaters-10885.html

Water heaters are important for a house because they are responsible for supplying heated water to one of more of the taps and appliances in the house. They work by converting energy to heat and then transferring that warmth to water. A cold water supply pipe is connected to the water heater along with an outgoing hot water pipe (or system of pipes).

There are two main types of waters heaters which include a conventional water heater and a tankless water heater. Conventional heaters store heated water in a tank. Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, skip the storing water part and instead just route heated water straight to the taps and appliances in your house. The water is circulated through a series of burners or electric coils when a hot water faucet or appliance is turned on.

It is important to know that tankless heaters cost less to operate, but they also can not handle the need for excessive water heating. They are, however, an efficient alternative to the more traditional forms of heating. They are a far more efficient way to heat water because a tankless water heater heats only what you need, for as long as you need it.

Before purchasing a water heater it is important to know a little bit about how the heater is fueled and what size will work best for your home. Generally, water heaters are fueled by natural gas, but certain models will use propane and others use electricity. It is usually less expensive to use natural gas instead of electricity. However, not everyone has access to natural gas.

As far as size is concerned, it usually works well to count the number of bathrooms in the house. The more bathrooms that you have, the bigger the tank will need to be. Keep in mind, the amount of laundry and the amount of people in your house will also help determine which size heater you will need. A one bathroom home will typically need a heater that is 30 to 40 gallons.

Liz Wood
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/the-basics-of-water-heaters-88229.html