A Propane Tankless Water Heater - Energy Savings and Longer Lifespan!

A propane tankless water heater will provide you hot water only when it is needed and this is why it is sometimes called an on demand water heater. The type that most people are use to, traditionally store water in their tanks of different sizes and these tanks held pre-heated water.

There are two different kinds of propane tankless water heater systems. There is the “Point of Use”, which is a very small system that will only heat water for one or two different places. This would be for example like for a kitchen sink. Being small allows them to be put in a cabinet or under the sink. The other one is a “Whole House Use” system. This is a system that is designed to give enough hot water for your whole home and installed in the garage or utility room.

These types of water heaters are attractive and have very simple designs and can be installed in just about any room and can be vented directly to the outside of your home. They have commercial grade heat exchangers for maximum durability. They have sleek and modern designs and can be used for both residential and commercial properties. The temperature range for a standard model will range from 98° F to 140° F and the commercial version going from 98° F to 160° F. All units come pre-set at 120° F.

Some of the key advantages to owning this type of water heater are:

Energy Saving – When you first install the waterheater you will discover that it is more expensive than it would be to install a traditional one; however, after you begin to use the propane water heater you should start to see the energy savings as your utility bills begin to get lower over time.

Hot Water is Continuous – With a tankless water heater you will be provided with an unlimited amount of water that is hot. The reason for this is that as the water passes through the heater it is continually being heated. With a traditional tank heater you can run out of the water that is stored and there is a waiting period before you'll get anymore hot water.

Size is Key – This type of heater most definitely requires a lot less space due to it's small size. A lot of times the units can be mounted on a wall and they don't take up any of your floor space like that of the traditional heaters.

Water Damage Lower Risk – Storage tank heaters will eventually leak or even rupture at some time or another and this can lead to a lot of water damage. This is not a risk with the propane tankless water heater system. The only problem there might be is if there is some kind of pipe fitting failure.

Last Longer – With the average lifespan being 12 years for the more traditional system, the tankless system can be expected to last for 20 years.

Disadvantages of owning this type of waterheater are:

Lag Time – With water on demand this will cause a delay of hot water from the faucet when first turned on and will have to run 15 seconds or so before the water gets hot.

Cost of Installation – To install one can cost from $800 to $1,150 as compared to $300 to $480 for the traditional tank water heater. There may also be addition costs of around $1,200 for upgraded pipes and ventilation.

A propane tankless water heater may not be right for everyone, but for those looking to lower their utility bills, conserve energy and be more environmentally friendly then this may be the way to go.

The following steps taken beforehand will make this transition to a tankless water heater system much simpler.
* Take the time to know how much hot water will be needed by the family on a daily basis.
* Buy the propane tankless water heater system large enough to provide the quantity needed for your family's needs.
* Find out what type of plumbing changes will necessary before the unit can be installed.

By following these simple steps before purchasing your propane tankless water heater, you will guarantee a smooth transition from a traditional water heater to a propane tankless water heater.