Instant Hot Water for Home Use
Instant hot water is a delightful luxury that makes life much more enjoyable and may reduce your energy costs. Thanks to a variety of technology advancements, there are several types of instant or on-demand hot water systems suitable for either point-of-use or whole-house applications. Let’s examine the different options, their uses and some factors to consider.
Instant Hot Water Dispensers
These small under-sink systems are typically installed in the kitchen. They supply small volumes of hot water for food preparation, drink preparation, cleaning tasks or other purposes. Small but mighty, these units heat water to a precise temperature (typically 140 to 200 degrees F) and dispense it the moment you open the tap. Most units deliver up to 60 cups of hot water an hour, and many include inline filtration to ensure high quality water suitable for consumption and food preparation.
Point-of-Use Instant Water Heaters
There are two types of compact instant heaters: tankless and mini-tank. Both are installed near the use point and operate in a similar manner. When the hot water tap is opened, they turn on, rapidly heat the water and send it to the faucet or appliance. Mini-tank models are more instantaneous, because they deliver a small reserve of heated water for immediate use while they rapidly heat more to replenish the supply. Both come in a range of sizes and capacities, so they can supply hot water to kitchen, bathroom and utility sinks or appliances such as small dishwashers.
Whole-House Tankless Water Heaters
Whole-house tankless heaters deliver hot water for baths, showers, dishwashers, laundry and more. Designed to replace traditional water heaters, tankless versions connect to the central plumbing, distribute hot water wherever it’s needed, and are larger and more powerful than point-of-use models. Most will produce 2 to 5 gallons of hot water a minute, and they may reduce the water-heating portion of your energy bill by 10% to 20%. However, it can take several minutes for heated water to enter the pipeline and reach its destination, so you may waste some water while you wait for it to heat.
Point-of-use hot water heaters in particular can be an effective way to reduce energy use and water waste. Because they require less wattage and you’re not activating the main water heater every time someone turns on the hot water faucet, you save energy and reduce costs. Because hot water is instantly available, there’s no need to let water run down the drain while you wait for it to warm up. From single point-of-use units to whole-house systems, it’s smart to talk with your plumber, who can help you evaluate your specific needs and configure a system that works for your household.