Propane Tankless Water Heater

Of the major appliances that most people depend on, the one you might least like to stop working is probably your water heater. IF you have a big problem with an old water heater, such as the bottom rusting out and all the water going down the drain, you really know it is time to get a new one. Hopefully, you won't have to get to that point to decide that you need a new, more efficient model to fulfill the needs of your household. As you look into the different types, sizes, and styles of water heating systems, you may wonder the best way to go. You may even wish to consult with a customer service specialist at a home improvement center or plumbing supply store. If you do, be sure to ask about a propane tankless water heater.

The new tankless systems of heating your water are also called instant hot water heaters or on-demand hot water heaters. This is because that is how they work. Rather than heating up a tank full of water and trying to keep it hot until it is needed, the propane tankless water heater only heats up water as you need it. When you turn on the hot water faucet, the water flows through the unit and the pilot light ignites the burners. The water is superheated and sent on its way to the faucet you turned on. It is practically instantaneous hot water on demand. The technology used with a propane tankless water includes water inlets and outlets, a heat exchanger, burner, and a flue.

How much hot water can a system like this produce? The propane tankless water heater can produce in the vicinity of 6 to 7 gallons of hot water per minute. When you think about the 2.5 gallons per minute that are used in an average shower, you can see that two people can easily shower at the same time without stealing each other's hot water. You could also run the washer while running a bath and the dishwasher too, without ever running out of hot water. The beauty is that as soon as you turn off the faucet, the burners go out and there is not a huge tank of water sitting there trying to heat up or retain heat.

A propane tankless water heater is quite small compared to the traditional models that use tanks. Those can take quite a bit of room. The tankless style takes up about one fifth the amount of space as the others use. It can be installed on almost any inside or outside wall. You can even have more than one unit if you have a larger house or a higher demand. Installation is minimal and maintenance is practically non-existent.

Of course, the cost of the unit may be more than a traditional unit. However, with the large amount of energy savings, which is up to 40 or 50 percent per year, it will soon pay for itself. There is also a government tax rebate that is available for certain energy-efficient home improvement projects that can get you up to $1500 back. With all the benefits of a propane tankless water heater, you should really look into this exciting technology.