Good and bad of tankless water heaters

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Some of the pros and cons of owning a tankless water heater as we see it -

Tankless water heaters do not work in the same way as a conventional water heater. Tankless water heaters heat water to the temperature that is required for personal hygiene purposes and not to 120o-140o like a conventional water heater. The only reason a conventional water heater 'superheats' water to 120o-140o is so that the limited volume of water they hold can be extended by mixing it with cold water. Not only does this waste energy by heating the water and then cooling it again, but it increases the possibility that a child or elderly family member will scald themselves accidentally. The process of 'superheating' the water is not necessary with a tankless water heater because it produces an unlimited supply of hot water.

I would suggest that when a tankless water heater is installed it is adjusted so that those who like the hottest shower in the home are comfortable with the mixing valve be set to maximum hot. If you have a thermometer in the house, the temperature of the shower should be at about 104o. This effectively eliminates the waste of energy associated with heating water to a temperature greater than that which is necessary for personal use. It also eliminates the possibility of scalding injuries.

Each time you use hot water a tankless water heater goes through a 15-30 second cycle to regulate the temperature of the water to the setting on the thermostat. It will fluctuate from very hot to cool to just right. When you turn on your shower or a faucet, you will only use your hot water valve. Don't expect the water to get as hot as it did before you installed the tankless water heater, because it will already be adjusted so you will not have to mix cold water with it.

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Information About Tankless Water Heaters