A significant amount of heat in hot water is normally lost between the water heater and the point of use. However, a simple improvement of your hot water distribution system can minimize these losses. For an existing home, some energy-saving measures you can adjust to your hot water distribution system include fixing leaks, insulating the pipes and replacing traditional shower heads with low flow shower heads. If these measures are not reducing hot water heat losses, then it’s time to consider installing point-of-use electric tankless water heaters.
What are Point-of-Use Water Heaters?
Point-of-use electric tank-less water heaters are water heating elements installed close to the shower, faucet, kitchen sink or any other place where hot water is needed. They are used to boost water temperature, especially if the outlets are a significant distance from the central water heater. Installing point-of-use electric tankless water heaters is one of the most effective methods of energy efficiency instead of upward adjustment of temperature at the central water heater. Before installing any of these units, it’s always advisable to go for the best electric tankless water heater on the market to ensure maximum energy savings.
Where Can You Install Them?
Point-of-use electric tankless water heaters are normally installed as close as possible to the place where hot water is needed. Since these units are dedicated to that single appliance or faucet alone, you are assured of a steady supply of instant hot water. Most people assume that installing POU water heaters is expensive since every faucet will require one. However, that is not always the case. In fact, they can save you more money if you replace your central water heater with them, since no energy will be lost through the water distribution system. Having said that, here some places where you can install these units.
The Shower
A cold shower might feel refreshing after a gym session on a summer afternoon. However, most people enjoy taking a hot rinse throughout the rest of the year. The problem with traditional water heaters is that if someone is flushing a toilet, running a sink or using hot water elsewhere in the home, it can put a strain on the central water heater. Therefore, you might end up with a cold rinse, contrary to your expectations. On the other hand, point-of-use electric tank-less water heaters guarantee a steady flow of hot water for various reasons. First, the unit is dedicated to one use only – supplying your shower faucet with hot water, thus eliminating any other demand. Second, if there is a big distance between the shower and your traditional water heater, there will be significant losses of heat. The lost heat translates to wasted
energy. According to the California Energy Commission, the less the distance traveled by the heated water, the lesser the losses. Therefore, installing the point-of-use electric tank-less water heaters directly in your shower will cut these losses, which translates to energy savings.
The Kitchen Sink
As you probably know, kitchens have a higher demand for hot water as compared to other areas in the home. According to the Environment Protection Agency, the average residential kitchen consumes approximately 2 gallons of water every minute. However, if you are cooking or washing the dishes and you leave water running whenever you don’t need it, this amount will increase. If you are washing a large number of dishes, then you might end up doing them with cold water, which can be uncomfortable during the colder months. With a point-of-use electric tankless water heater, you have hot water on demand.
The Washing Machine
If you are planning to install a POU tankless water heater, there are high chances that you have also looked for ways to make your washing machines more efficient. Before you replace your current laundry machine to save energy, you should first focus on how much water it uses. According to Jetson Green, if you wash only two loads of clothes in a week, your average washing machine will consume a minimum of 5,000 gallons of water annually. If you have a large family using the laundry machine, it can put a significant strain on your water heater. This means that your water heater must always be on to meet your family’s hot water demands, which will lead to high-energy costs. However, with a point of use water heater, you only need to turn on the unit when you need hot water.
Point-of-use electric tankless water heaters can lead to significant energy savings when you install them in your home. They also heat up water much faster as compared to the traditional units. Therefore, you will have hot water immediately you step into the shower or turn on the laundry machine.