Traditional hot water heater designs, while simple and functional, are beginning to show their age in many ways. In recent years, technological advances have improved the process not only to address these deficiencies, but to provide homes with hot water on demand. If you’re curious about how this technology works and what advantages it brings, read on.

While traditional water heater design has persisted for years, it has major inefficiencies. Most obvious is its size. Tanks must be large enough to accommodate a home’s needs, but not so large as to dominate an otherwise useful storage area. Some of that size must be devoted to insulation, both to improve efficiency and to keep excess heat from escaping into the home. Even so, some heat is lost, placing extra strain on air conditioning in warmer months as it struggles to keep the home cool.

Furthermore, a reservoir of hot water must be kept available at all times, even during hours when it is not needed. Not only is this a process prone to frustration should the supply run out at inopportune moments, but the method of adjusting for temperature is just as clumsy and, if done incorrectly, dangerous.

Needless to say, our methods for heating water are due for a change. This is where tankless water heaters come in. By generating hot water on demand, these systems revolutionize how we heat and use water in our homes.

By eliminating the reservoir, tankless water heaters eliminate many disadvantages of the more traditional designs. Losing the tank minimizes so called standby heat loss, the heat wasted maintaining tank temperatures when not in use. This is from where these units derive their energy efficiency. There may be grants available to help cover installation costs due to these energy efficiency gains, so if the cost of hot water on demand seems prohibitive then do a bit of research or contact your city and state governments for advice.

Tankless water heaters also require less space. As such, they can either provide hot water for single fixtures, or for entire houses. Single fixture designs in particular demonstrate several key advantages in that they can instantly create nearly boiling water. Imagine, for instance, making a cup of tea with water directly from the tap, no heating required, or bringing pots to a boil in a fraction of the time. A single-fixture model installed in your kitchen can make this a reality, and often at a much lower cost than is possible with whole-house units.

Tankless water heaters also make hot water safer to use. Water temperature is affected by many factors, most of which derive from the presence and capacity of the tank. If hot water suddenly becomes available to a traditional heater, your pleasantly warm shower can quickly become dangerously scalding. By providing a constant supply at a uniform temperature, tankless water heaters not only help you find the best amount of heat for your needs, but ensure that you’ll not need to make quick adjustments to compensate for changes.

Tankless water heaters are not only energy efficient, but offer a level of convenience never before had in the home. Whereas energy efficiency often comes at a cost, this is one example in which it remarkably does not.