Tankless water heaters have been on the market for several years, but recently they started to revolutionize the market with new innovative ideas that make them even more attractive.

The idea that you only heat the water as you consume it is very appealing. We never think about the costs associated with maintaining the proper temperature in a tank that we don’t use when we’re out of town or away for extended periods. We come home, turn on the hot water, and hope it’s hot, never considering the cost of keeping it that way while we’re away.

Tankless water heaters were designed to address that situation while reducing the energy and water consumption of the typical family.

There are now even more advances in tankless technology that increase efficiency and fix some of the issues that came up at the start of the game, namely:

• point-of-use hot water for multiple outlets at once for a high-occupancy single-family home, and
• the expense associated with installing correctly sized gas pipes and the multiple units required to ensure that 2-3 showers and appliances can have hot water at the same time.
• Additionally, sediment and scale problems were becoming more apparent within those tanks.

In 2011 these problems have been addressed and are completely avoidable.

Newer units now have an additional tank, housed inside a small ‘tankless’ heater. This reservoir can hold 2 to 5 gallons of water available for immediate use, regardless of the automatically heated water. This speeds up the delivery cycle, saving time, energy and water. Circulation pumps get water to the tap even faster.

In addition, the newer models are now better equipped to handle higher capacities than their gas or electric predecessors.

Gas models that used to require a larger gas line installation to deliver the necessary charge for both existing and tankless appliances can now be installed without those added worries and expenses in most cases.

Electric models are now available with ‘coilless’ technology, which removes most of the limescale build-up. Many now have a “zero clearance” installation and are made to be attractive while standing almost anywhere.

Also, look for new hybrid models that reduce the need for multiple tanks for high-capacity delivery. Tankless water heaters start heating the moment a faucet is turned on. Some delays in earlier models caused consumer frustration as the water temperature could not be constant. The new hybrid technology ensures that the temperature remains constant and the reviews are very favorable.

Don’t let old issues with tankless water heaters get in the way of your green thinking. People have worked hard to improve previous systems, and the options available to consumers today are less expensive, easier to install, cleaner to operate, and maximize their availability of hot water.