The Difference Between Low and High Efficiency Water Heaters
What makes a tankless water heater so much more efficient than a conventional tank water heater?
Larry Janesky, president of Dr. Energy Saver, was recently On the Job in Florida, answering that very question.
A tank based water heater loses heat in many ways. First there is what we call the ‘standby heat loss’. The water in the tank, when not in use, cools down and when it gets too cold, the unit has to re-heat the water so that you always have hot water when you need it. This process is repeated over and over again, 24/7, 365 days a year, whether you are asleep or awake, at home or on vacation.
To prevent some energy loss, this homeowner wrapped the tank as an attempt to insulated it, and installed a timer that would turn the water heater off while the house was empty, and turn it back on close to the time when the family came back home.
In this case, the tank cover wasn’t providing proper insulation. A lot of heat was being lost through the top of the unit and through the uninsulated pipes. The timer caused the water to cool down completely and then make the unit work at full blast at the end of the day, to reheat all that water in the tank.
Tankless water heaters, as the name suggests, do not have a tank. They heat water on demand, as much as you need and when you need. Unlike tank units that run out of hot water, tankless units provide an endless flow of water, shower after shower. High efficiency units also modulate. They operate at full blast when the hot water demand is bigger, and at lower settings when you only need a little bit of water to wash a dish or your hands. There is virtually no waste in newer models, operating at 90% of efficiency. That means that 90% of the energy you pay for to run the heater is actually converted into hot water. Tank based water heaters, specifically older models, operate at an efficiency at or less than 65%.
Are you shopping for a new water heater? Let Dr. Energy Saver show you many more ways to save energy and money in water heating, HVAC, lighting,
Gas-fired Water heater Replaced with High Efficiency Tankless Water Heater
Dr. Energy Saver is replacing a leaky, gas-fired water heater with an energy efficient tankless water heater.
Among the many advantages of tankless water heaters is the fact that you never run out of hot water, because the water is heated on demand. In comparison, tank-type water heaters only hold a limited amount of water. When that water is gone it takes a long while for the unit to produce more hot water. In addition, older water heaters aren’t well insulated, so there is what we call ‘stand-by’ heat loss. The water in the tank cools down and needs to be reheated over and over, 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days per year regardless of whether you are using it or not, awake or asleep, at home or on vacation. That is a lot of energy being wasted just to make sure you have hot water when it’s needed. In high efficiency tankless water heaters, the gas valve opens according to the amount of water you need. If you are only washing your hands, it will open a little, if you are taking a shower, it will work at full power. Tankless water heaters provide as much water as you need, whenever you’re in need.
Heat Pump Water Heater Vs Boilers
Upgrade your home’s hot water system with a heat pump water heater and experience unbeatable energy efficiency, comfort, and savings. Unlike traditional heaters, heat pump water heaters extract heat from the air, making them up to three times more efficient even in the Finger Lakes climate. That means lower energy bills, a smaller carbon footprint, and consistent hot water, guaranteed. Why settle for outdated, expensive systems when you can enjoy modern efficiency that can be powered by renewable energy sources? Halco includes heat pump water heater installation in many of our whole home comfort and energy projects.
