So has all the new water heaters on the market have you confused on which one is the best? Which one is the greenest and most efficient? Well don’t feel alone, there happens to be a lot of options today but the proper application is what needs to be looked at.
There is no doubt that the standard tanked and flue type water heaters are energy wasters. Keeping water hot 24/7 when you don’t need it and the wasted conditioned air that goes out the flue are the two biggest reasons energy is wasted. Also what about the water that stands in the line after you turn the water off. Well that can be wasted energy with any system if the install is not thought about.
Even with a tankless system you can waste energy if you have long distance from the heater and the faucet. That is why it is suggested to keep your hot water needs in one local area or divide your system into to heaters. Now think about that one lone half bath away from everything. It may make more sense to put an electric on demand system under the sink.
Tankless systems have a lot to offer in efficiency. The Department of Energy has estimated that tankless systems can save from 24% to 35% on energy costs. But most of the tankless systems need special installation consideration.
Both gas and electric tankless systems are considered to use less energy but these systems consume more energy while running, but consume less over a long period. To accommodate the surges tankless systems need larger gas lines or more electrical power than a standard heater. Also special outside air intake and exhaust flues need to be installed. So before you decide to take the old system out and put a tankless system in its place talk with a plumber that has experience installing tankless systems.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed on February 17, 2009, by President Obama has made significant changes to homeowner tax credits for specified energy-efficient home improvements including qualifying, residential water heaters. Some of the more significant changes include the extension of the tax credit through 2010 and the increase in the total available tax credit from 10% to 30%.
Now is the time to make the change and take advantage of the incredible tax credit. But be sure you have a qualified installer look at your current water heater to see if additional alterations need to be made.
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