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Water Heater 101: Understanding How Tankless Water Heaters Work

May 31, 2023

Many homeowners rave about their tankless water heaters. Now, you may be asking yourself, “What’s the big deal?” Well, unlike traditional water heaters, these tankless units don’t have a storage tank. Instead, they provide an endless supply of hot water by heating up water on demand.

So, how does a tankless water heater work, exactly? We’ll go over everything you need to know in more detail below.

What Are the Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters?

Before we can discuss how tankless water heaters work, it can be helpful to review why these systems are so popular. Whether you’re thinking about replacing your current water heater or have recently moved into a home with a tankless unit, you may be wondering what makes these units so unique.

There can be many benefits to installing a tankless water heater in your home, as you can see in this helpful guide:

LimRic March 2023 Blog Infographic 3 1

Understanding How Tankless Water Heaters Work

When it comes down to it, tankless and tank water heaters work in much of the same way. However, since tankless units don’t have a storage tank, their process for heating up water is much more streamlined.

The Water Is Heated

As cold-water flows into the tankless water heater, this will set off the flow sensor. Of course, it’s impossible to discuss how tankless water heaters work without mentioning the flow sensor. This sensor will let the system know it’s time to start heating the water. The flow sensor sends a signal to ignite the burner or heating element, and the water is heated as it passes through the system.

You may or may not know, tankless water heaters can run on electricity or natural gas, with natural gas being much more common and efficient. This means the heating process will look slightly different depending on the fuel type you use.

With gas water heaters, the water is heated by a gas burner. This is certainly different from electric tankless water heaters, which heat the water with an electric element. From here, the cold water surrounds the heat exchanger, where it is then heated up to the desired temperature. This specific temperature is preset, which usually ends up being around 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hot Water Is Sent to the Faucet

Once the water has reached the desired temperature, it’s sent out to your shower or faucet for you to enjoy. Since tankless water heaters heat water as it passes through the system, you never have to worry about your faucets running cold.

However, it’s also important to ensure that your water heater replacement in Portland, OR, is properly sized to fit your household’s hot water needs. Professional water heater installers will need to determine how much capacity you need.

Install a Tankless Water Heater Today!

Now you know how a tankless water heater works! Tankless water heaters have grown in popularity among homeowners — and for a good reason. As you can see, these systems work efficiently to deliver a constant flow of hot water precisely when you need it. You never have to worry about running out of hot water because of an empty tank, as there’s no tank to begin with. Also, these units are excellent space savings and those who are looking to increase their energy savings.

Ready to replace your water heater? Don’t choose just any company for the job. Turn to the professionals at Fast Water Heater! When you hire our experts, you can rest assured that we’ll get the job done right.

Contact us today to request an appointment for your hot water heater installation in Seattle, WA, or the surrounding areas. We’re also proud to serve homeowners up and down the West Coast in California or Oregon.

Call (425) 636-7038
for fast service

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