Houston Chronicle

Know the facts about going tankless

- By Renae’ L. Turnbaugh RHEEM WATER HEATING

Did you know that tankless water heaters are the most popular types of water heaters outside of the United States? They are not commonplac­e here — but that’s changing.

More Americans are curious about the benefits of tankless technology, which include continuous hot water and energy efficiency.

More and more new homes are being built with tankless heaters, and older homes can be retrofitte­d with tankless units for better access to continuous hot water.

Is a tankless water heater right for you? Here’s what you need to know about them.

They keep the hot water flowing. Tankless water heaters are perfect for homes with busy families because they provide all the hot water necessary for multitaski­ng. This means laundry, dishes and showers can happen all at the same time without running out of hot water. Plus, if you own a large garden or whirlpool bathtub, a tankless water heater can make sure it gets filled to the brim with hot water, whereas some traditiona­l tank-type water heaters just don’t hold enough water the get the job done.

Tankless water heaters are energy efficient. These water heaters use energy to heat water only as it is needed, so no energy is wasted while there is no demand for hot water.

By comparison, most convention­al tank water heaters continuall­y heat and reheat 40 to 50 gallons of water each day — even when nobody is home. Some tankless models operate at 94 percent thermal efficiency, making it supremely efficient, and ultimately, a good choice for environmen­tal stewardshi­p.

They’re the perfect complement to water-saving faucets and fixtures. That’s because some tankless units ensure these fixtures receive hot water without having to increase the flow — an important distinctio­n that leads to energy savings.

When you’re shopping for tankless, make sure it’s compatible with lowflow fixtures if you have them.

Look for a unit that features an industry-best minimum flow rate of 0.26 gallons per minute (GPM) and a minimum activation flow rate of 0.40 GPM.

They take up less space in a home. These water heaters come in a convenient, space-saving size, which is especially beneficial for today’s smaller and smarter homes.

About the size of a medicine cabinet, tankless units help homeowners regain extra inches of precious “real estate” in a home — providing additional storage space in a basement, garage, laundry room or closet.

This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Associatio­n. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting profession­alism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certificat­ion and service to the Houston community. For informatio­n on this article, please contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsu­lting.net. To join the council or to find a profession­al remodeler in your area, please visit www. ghba.org.

 ?? Photo courtesy of Rheem Water Heating ?? External tankless water heaters in recessed boxes eliminate the need for venting.
Photo courtesy of Rheem Water Heating External tankless water heaters in recessed boxes eliminate the need for venting.
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