On-Demand Hot Water Heaters: Buying Tips and Things to Look For

Tankless water heater for on-demand water heating

Is buying an on-demand hot water heater a good idea? Are they worth investing your money and time?

In short, on-demand water heating is great for homeowners looking for continuous and endless supply of fresh hot water, when required.

On-demand hot water heaters: Things to consider

Are you overwhelmed with various water heating options, types, and models? How much do you know about tank-type, tank-less, gas, electric, or solar systems, to make the right buying decision?

I know it is hard and time-consuming even to get familiar with water heating and available options. It took me weeks, if not months, lots of reading, training, and hands-on experience before I was able to repair and sell one with confidence.

While searching for the right answer online, try to connect with the HVAC experts and "gurus" that are comparing different types, such as on-demand vs. tank type or tankless vs. hybrid.

The you will also notice that some groups prefer an old traditional way with the tank-type heater, while others, especially those who have experienced on-demand water heating, would recommend this tankless technology.

How on-demand hot water heaters work

On-demand hot water heaters are often called tankless because they don't have storage tanks. They are powered by natural or propane gas, including electricity, and can generate hot water whenever you need it or as required. Hot water is delivered in continuous supply to one or multiple applications - simultaneously.

The incoming cold water passes through the heat exchanger, where it is heated instantly by a built-in gas burner or heating elements (electric type). Most modern models include modulation so the unit doesn't operate at its maximum all the time, only how much it needs.

This type of appliance provides endless hot water, so it is perfect for homes with the high hot water demand or occasional use (cottages or camping, for example). Use this article to find out more about tankless.

Contrary to on-demand heaters, water tank heaters heat the water inside the large tank, and hot water is almost always ready, but not fresh. If the water from the tank is all used, you have to wait for the water to reheat before using it again (depends on the recovery and tank capacity). More about tank-type heaters here.

Benefits of on-demand water heaters

• Freshwater is heated and delivered on demand
• Endless and continuous supply of hot water
• Energy Star approved
• The small size ensures more flexibility
• High efficient water heating
• Energy savings of over 30%
• Hot water is available immediately with the use of a recirculation system
• It can last for a long time
• Long warranties
• Adds value to your house

Disadvantages for on-demand water heaters

• High purchase and installation price
• Limited flow rate
• Requires minimum water flow rate to start
• Repairs might be complex and expensive
• Professional installation and service are recommended
• Prone to cold water sandwich effects (temperature fluctuations)

Are on demand water heaters more efficient?

On-demand hot water heaters are built to provide efficiency of over 80%, making some models high efficient and others ultra-efficient. The last ones are known as condensing heaters and are designed to use heat from the flue gases for water preheating with an efficiency of over 90%.

Rather than storing water, a tankless heats water only when needed, so it is delivered fresh. Contrary to tankless, a tank-type stores water inside the tank, constantly being reheated, whether used or not.

So, taking into account how both systems operate, and since the tank-type loses its energy through the tank walls (standby heat loss), we can see that small but powerful tankless units can save over 30% of energy, making most models also Energy Star compliant.

On-demand water heater types

On-demand water heaters are designed for various use, from residential to commercial applications, and as follows:

• Indoor models – models installed only inside the house.
• Outdoor models – installed outdoors only.
• Point of use (POU) – small on-demand water heaters that are installed mainly under the sink in the kitchen or bathroom, and close to the hot water fixtures.
• Whole-house – powerful heaters that are installed mainly on the wall to save space and provide enough hot water from small to large homes.
• Portable – this type is used mainly when camping or when hot water is needed outside and off-grid (washing pets on the farm, for example).
• Mobile – this type is used in RVs or the marine industry, and the most common are those running on propane fuel.

Can I use an on-demand water heater to heat a pool?

According to the Rinnai manufacturer, tankless water heaters should not be used for heating pools and spas because the chemicals used in pools can damage inner components.

They are designed to heat domestic water only, heating water at higher temperatures and relatively low flow rates. This is not the case with the pool heating, where the required water temperature is lower and the flow rate is higher.

While on-demand models are designed particularly for pool heating, such as EcoSmart Smart Pool 27, we always recommend consulting a professional first.

Choosing an on demand water heater - Selecting and sizing tips

Before buying a water heater, you need to consider the following:

• Size
• Fuel type and availability
• Efficiency
• Costs

Sizing

Sizing an on-demand hot water heater is not hard to figure out. It would be best if you determine the flow rate and temperature rise for the applications in your home.

List the number of applications you expect to use at the same time and add up their flow rates, calculated in gallons per minute (GPM).

The temperature rise is also easy to calculate; subtract the temperatures of the incoming water temperature and desired output temperature. Different values for temperature rise are usually given in the manufacturer's manuals.

Efficiency

On-demand water heaters are more efficient than traditional tank-type types – most have an energy factor of 0.82, Energy Star – 0.87 or higher, and the most advanced, such as condensing, have an energy efficiency of over 90%.

How much does an on demand water heater cost?

On-demand water heaters are more expensive than the traditional tank type. The price is often two times higher.

Prices range from $40 for the electric shower head water heater to over $800 for the 36 kW tankless unit, and from $100 for the portable gas unit to over $2000 for the ultra-high efficient condensing models.

Venting in gas indoor models is very expensive, because non-condensing models use stainless steel vents due to the high exhaust gas temperature and acidic nature of condensation. Condensing units use cheaper plastic vents.

Tankless heaters have more sophisticated elements; they need more care, making the service and maintenance cost you more.

On average, one on-demand water heater can save up to 40% of heating costs when properly installed.

Popular gas tankless manufacturers for residential use

• Rinnai
• Bosch
• Noritz
• Takagi
• Navien

Popular on-demand manufacturers for RVs and camping

• Eemax
• Suburban
• Zodi
• Coleman
• EccoTemp

Popular on-demand electric heaters

• Stiebel Eltron Tempra
• Hubbell
• Eemax
• EcoSmart
• Titan

Components of on-demand water heaters

The main advantage of the on-demand hot water heaters over the storage tank-type is the use of sophisticated components, which are replaceable and serviceable. For example, if leaking happens on the water tank heater, you have to replace the whole unit, while if the heat exchanger leaks, no problem, you just have to replace this particular element.

Tank-type heaters operate at the constant gas input rate, while tankless have a modulating burner (actually, the gas valve provides more or less gas), which adjusts its power based on the water flow. Since the tankless heaters do not have a tank but a heat exchanger, they can provide hot water up to its maximum rated output. If the system is not sized correctly, the unit cannot meet the demand if the demand exceeds the maximum result. On the other hand, tank-type can handle peak demands.

Most tankless units utilize the self-diagnostic system and remote controller to monitor the water heating and change the settings, making them convenient to operate. Advanced electronics allow easy troubleshooting, so in some cases, homeowners can fix the problem.

An on-demand hot water heater does not require the anode rod since there is no water storage and the inner components are made of copper and stainless steel, so there is no corrosion as it happens on metal tanks.

Other requirements

All tankless heaters need a minimum water flow to trigger the ignition, so properly sized plumbing pipes are a must. Tank-type can work with any flow or pressure. Also, the correct size of the gas pipe should provide sufficient gas for gas combustion, so when switching from tank to tankless, a proper size should be provided and the new vent pipe. Every on-demand water heater consumes a large amount of gas at the beginning.

According to consumerreports.org, on-demand water heaters are more efficient but not economical.

Installation and maintenance tips

Installing an on-demand water heater is much more expensive than conventional tank-type, especially in the case of the venting system where stainless steel pipes should be used.

Direct vent tankless models are designed for the installation in any part of the house as they come with the sealed combustion chamber and vent system that gets the air from outside and transfers the flue gases out safely.

In retrofit situations, when replacing the tank heater with the tankless, installation costs are higher. Due to its higher gas inputs, tankless units require larger venting and gas lines.

Periodic water heater maintenance can greatly extend the unit's life and reduce service costs.

Warranty

Almost every on-demand hot water heater has a 12-year warranty, some 15 years, on the heat exchanger and five on other elements, while most tank-type heaters are 6-9 years, rarely 12.

How long does an on demand water heater last?

On-demand water heaters have an average service life of up to 20 years while tank-type of 10-15 years. While almost all the elements of tankless units can be replaced, this is not the case with conventional models.

So, are on demand water heaters worth it?

Based on the facts from above, on-demand hot water heaters are more energy and water efficient with long draws, and that's why they are recommended in situations with high hot water demand. Since tankless models heat water only when needed, they are also recommended in places where not used frequently.

One of the frequent complaints about tankless operation is the "cold water sandwich," which is minor when taking into account the great number of positive reviews. With the new advanced technology implemented in some models, on-demand water heaters today are capable of reducing the number of temperature fluctuations significantly, saving you energy and money.

As they offer many benefits, on-demand water heaters are well worth the money, making them a good investment for many homeowners.