Electric tankless water heaters offer many benefits in comparison to standard hot water tank as well as gas-fired tankless heaters. Some of these benefits include:
- It offers a continuous supply of hot water on demand
- There are minimized water heating costs and you can easily save up to 50% over standard hot water heaters.
- The efficiency rate of a electric water heater is almost 98% and above
- Their small and compact size saves plenty of space and it is also quite easy to install.
- These electric tankless water heaters face less risk of corrosion, which is usually the case with standard water heaters where sediments buildup within the tank.
- It is much more simpler and easier to maintain and manage electric water heater in tankless category
While these are the advantages, there is one of the disadvantages too and that is related to the cost. It can be of higher cost and the installation can be a little difficult if you are intending to replace an existing water tank. Electric tankless water heaters do require more power and this means more costs. This small and compact unit can be perfect for homes in warmer climates where the water needs to be heated a little more than the room temperature. But same is not the case in colder climates where the water is much colder and therefore it requires more power to heat the water. In most likelihood, most people won’t have 220 volts and amperage needed to ensure the electric water heater runs properly and in most case there will be a need to install additional wiring and maybe even another electric panel within the home.
Another disadvantage that tankless water heaters share is the time it requires for the water to get heated and passed on through the unit. This can sometimes even result in wastage of water, though a thermostatic tankless water heater may just solve this problem by providing hot water at a faster rate. It is a known fact that tankless water heaters do tend to build a rise in temperature, which is based on the demand of the flow rate. The water in turn only gets heated when the tap is turned on.
It is also important to know that where the electric tankless water heater will be installed and how much space will it take up. Accordingly the installation can be planned and if the water heater will be installed to provide water to the kitchen sink then it can even get power from a 110 volt adapter.
In case the demand is much more larger and the complete hot water requirements of the whole house has to be met then a tankless water heater that match the demand perfectly is needed. Undoubtedly a large unit is required for large homes with many bathrooms, utility rooms, swimming pools etc than what would be the requirement for an average sized home.
Tankless water heaters do have many benefits and they are mainly used in countries such as Japan and Europe. Anyone can get one of these unit installed at their homes and one can enjoy the most out of it. More information on tankless water heaters can easily be found on the web or it is also a good idea to find out from the local hardware store.