Should you power your shower (and washing machine, and dishwasher) with one of these long-life, energy-efficient units?
Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.zillow.com
Is a tank-less hot water system right for you? The upside includes an energy savings of an estimated $80 per year. This is achieved because you dont continually heat the water in a stored tank, even when you dont need it.
With a tankless (on demand) hot water system, the heat only comes on when you turn the hot water tap on.
Benefits also include a long life of the unit (estimated at 2-3 times as long as your average hot water tank).
There are some draw-backs to these on-demand hot water systems. First is the initial cost, somewhere between 2-3 times as expensive as installing a traditional hot water tank.
The second drawback may be the pressure or water-flow rate, which may be lower than those experienced with a traditional hot water tank unit.
Last piece of advice: Because these tankless systems have a longer life-span, it is important to check out the manufacturers warranty. Some better-backed units offer lifetime warranties, which could come in handy down the road.
