How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?

A Short Guide to On-Demand Propane-Powered Hot Water Systems

Take a moment to think about how old your water heater is: If it’s more than 10 years old, we strongly suggest you start planning for a water heater replacement in the not-too-distant future. After all, waiting until your current unit fails will leave you without working showers, dishwasher, and hot water taps while we work to secure new equipment. That’s a hassle and a rush that is inconvenient for everyone involved.

Also, in the dash to get your hot water back on, you won’t be able to explore all the efficient technologies that can improve your home comfort and significantly lower your energy bills!

If you’re not already familiar, propane-fired tankless water heaters provide unparalleled hot water generation and fantastic savings. Here’s a rundown of how they work:

Understanding How a Tankless Water Heater Works

As you might imagine from the name, a tankless water heater doesn’t have a storage tank. Instead, it heats water on demand with a powerful flame whenever you open a hot water tap in the house. The process goes like something like this:

1. Your tankless propane water heater detects an open hot water tap.
2. Its flow sensor determines how much hot water is needed.
3. The igniter calibrates a flame to the right intensity for the hot water needed.
4. The unit heats cold water in the secondary heat exchanger. It then passes to the primary heat exchanger.
5. The unit determines outgoing set temperatures and adjusts the flame.
6. Hot water moves through a buffer tank to your open tap.
7. The unit continues heating water until the tap is closed and the burner shuts off.

What are the Benefits of Going Tankless?

There are plenty of reasons why customers in Dover, Chesterton, Lewes and other communities in Delmarva and eastern Pennsylvania are making the change to tankless water heaters:

• Virtually unlimited hot water: Traditional storage tank units eventually deplete their reserve of heated water and need to replenish it. How fast they can do it is called a recovery rate. Tankless water heaters have no recovery rate—meaning you’ll enjoy uninterrupted hot water! One of our technicians will help you determine what model you need to accommodate your home’s peak flow rate.
• Lower energy bills: According to the Department of Energy, homes with tankless water heaters can save up to 34% on energy costs compared with traditional tank water heaters. The reason has to do with standby loss, which is the energy used to reheat unused water in a storage tank. Considering that the average U.S. home uses roughly one-fifth of its energy heating water, these are some significant savings.
• Longer equipment lifespan: Tankless water heaters have less exposure to corrosive particles in water. As a result, they last longer than traditional storage tank models on average. A tankless water heater can operate for 20 years or longer before needing to be replaced.

Looking to Upgrade or Replace Your Water Heater? Call Poore’s Propane & Oil!

The Poore’s team handles more propane water heater installations than pretty much anyone else in our region. Our expert service technicians will help you assess your family’s hot water needs and find an energy-efficient, high-performance tankless water heater that meets them.

Get in touch with the Poore’s team immediately for a FREE estimate!