No one likes to run out of hot water when taking a shower! There are more efficient and cost saving means of providing for your hot water needs than a standard hot water heater. Is a tankless water system a better solution? Or is a hybrid water system for a more efficient way to get hot water into your home? 

A tankless hot water system makes sense if you can install a gas fired unit.  How does a tankless water heater work? Put simply, when you turn on the hot water tap, cold water flows through pipes into the heating unit. Either a gas or electric element heats the water as it goes through the “demand type” water heater, and presto – hot H₂0! So you aren’t keeping a big tank of water warm, wasting electricity, until you need it. The hot water is provided “on demand.” The unit is much smaller than a traditional hot water tank too!

Now, there are limits. A tankless water heater usually can provide about 2-5 gallons per minute of hot water. So while consecutive showers will be no problem, simultaneous bath and laundry could be a concern. If your family has a need for more water at one time, an option could be to install multiple units, such as one for laundry and another for the rest of the house. 

While tankless water heaters are more expensive than conventional heaters, they tend to last longer and are more energy efficient. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in homes that use 41 gallons of water or less per day, demand type water heaters can be 24-34% more energy efficient. If your home uses closer to 86 gallons a day, the energy efficiency is still 8-14% higher than traditional water heaters.

If you do not have gas to your home, consider a hybrid hot water system to lower your electrical bill. It works with a heat pump by pulling heat from the air to heat up the coils wrapping the tank, and puts out cool air.  It uses 62% less energy than a standard 50 gallon electric hot water heater, which could save over $300 on the electrical bill annually. It is eligible for a federal tax credit which offsets the higher cost.  In the Phoenix area, it makes sense to install it in a garage to take advantage of the hot air supply and cooling it, and in the winter when the air isn't very warm, you can turn off the heat pump and it will work like a traditional hot water heater.  If you put it indoors, the unit will have to work harder to heat the coils, creating constant noise. Some units have a high demand setting, and vacation setting to meet changing needs.

So if, who gets the hot water shower is a contest with your family, it might be time to get a gas tankless water heater installed in your home. If you want to take advantage of our months of hot weather to cut down on the costs of heating water electrically, a hybrid hot water system will soon pay for itself in savings.

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