How does a tankless water heater work?

The tankless water heaters are the solution to a problem posed by tanked water haters. You see, tanked water heaters have a big tank that is filled with water. The system in the tanked water heater keeps heating the water in the tank continuously even when you are not using it.

Also Read: How We Can Buy A Best Tankless Water Heater?

When the temperature of the water in the tank falls below a certain level the heater starts and brings the water back to the set temperature level and the process goes on, in this process if the water is not used then the energy goes to waste. This energy loss is known as a standby loss.

Standby losses are eliminated in the tankless water heaters because it heats the water only when needed and that’s why they are also known as on-demand water heaters. The lack of a tank makes them so small and portable, the compact size makes it possible to install them nearer to the hot water is utilization point, this will prevent leakage along the way and reaches faster at the water outlet.

The working of these efficient and small heaters is simple. There will be a flow sensor installed on the incoming cold water line which detects the flow and ignites the fuel, fuel used can either be natural gas or propane because they are capable to provide a high energy transfer rate and that’s why they are extensively used in tankless heaters. There are also electric tankless water heaters available, they use electricity to heat the water.

The energy released due to the burning of the fuel passes through the heat exchanger, the heat-exchanger is a place in which cold water pipes are kept in a collected fashion so that maximum area available for heat transfer to take place.

The water is heated in the heat exchanger which then flows out of the unit through the outlet line which is equipped with the mixing valve and temperature sensor. The temperature of the output water can be manually chosen, and the tankless water heater will provide you with the water at the exact temperature.

If the temperature sensed by the sensor in the hot water line is less or more than the desired temperature then the mixing valve connecting the cold water and hot water line will be adjusted, mixing valve control the amount of cold water introduced in the hot water line.

The gas valve and the flow regulating valve in the incoming cold water line will also be suitably adjusted to bring the water to the desired temperature limit. The main highlight of these water heaters is that they never run out of water as long as you have the water in your lines, they will continuously supply the hot water to your house.

Moreover, the cleaning of the system is also easy. There are some tankless water heaters available in the market which monitors the cleanliness of the pipes and gives out the signal through led lights when maintenance is needed.

FAQ

Is a tankless water heater worth it?

Yes, Tankless water heater’s endless supply of hot water, takes up less space and saves money in the long run so it is highly recommended to buy tankless water heaters over tanked water heaters.

 

What is the downside of a tankless water heater?

Their cost and installation charge higher than tanked water heaters.