More homeowners are choosing the tankless route instead of relying on traditional storage tank water heaters. This is no surprise considering tankless water heaters offer a virtually unlimited hot water supply while saving energy and space. But how exactly do these heaters work? Keep reading to find out.
HOW DOES A TANKLESS WATER HEATER OPERATE?
The basic premise of a tankless heater is that it produces hot water on demand. After all, just one look at the device’s name indicates there’s nowhere to store the water beforehand. So, water gets heated as soon as it enters the unit.
But what does the heating? A gas burner will heat the water if the tankless water heater is gas-powered (natural gas or propane). This task falls to electrical resistance heating coils in the case of electricity-powered tankless water heaters.
HOW DOES A TANKLESS WATER HEATER DELIVER WATER?
Homeowners interested in the ins and outs of the tankless water heater’s operation can follow this step-by-step explanation, starting with cold water entering the heater and ending with hot water reaching its intended fixtures.
TURNING ON THE FAUCET
After a faucet has been turned on, the water starts flowing into the heater. There’s a limit to how much water can enter to avoid overwhelming the heating components.
TURNING ON THE HEAT SOURCE
When the tankless heater’s control board realizes that water is in the unit, it activates the heat source. Turning on the heat source for a gas tankless heater involves some steps (as opposed to one for electric heaters). Still, much energy ensures this process takes little time, and the water gets heated as fast as possible.
HEATING THE WATER
With the heat source turned on, the water gets heated quickly. Sometimes the heat source goes overboard, so small amounts of cold water are added to cool the temperature.
A component called the temperature sensor oversees this process, signaling to the control board whether it should adjust the amount of cold water. The same goes for the water flow and heat input. The goal is for the water exiting the unit to be hot.
REACHING THE FAUCETS
Once the heater reaches the ideal water temperature, there’s nothing left to do but send it to the designated faucet.
After the user gets sufficient hot water and turns off the faucet, the tankless water heater returns to standby mode. This entails shutting down the heat source, turning off fans, and waiting for water to enter the unit again.
GET A PROFESSIONAL TANKLESS WATER HEATER INSTALLATION
Tankless heaters offer numerous benefits to the entire household. Homeowners thinking about installing these handy units should consult a professional. This way, they will purchase a unit that meets all their needs without worrying about malfunctions due to poor installation.
Water Heater Pros provides water heater installation and replacement services for Las Vegas and surrounding area residents and businesses. Our expert technicians install both traditional and tankless water heaters for homes and other buildings with gas or electric service. We offer the highest quality installers for efficient, versatile water heaters such as Rheem. Ruud, high-efficiency tankless Navien units, and more. Ask about our installation specials.