Pick up any electronic product today and you have to know the language that goes with it. How else can you compare features or value? Every day our vocabulary is being expanded with new words and new metrics for rating the new and comparing it with the old.
Even on-demand hot water heaters are a part of the new technology; they have a language that we can use to judge which is right for our purpose. Perhaps not new words but unfamiliar, like:
Btu
GPM
Therms
Kilowatts
Flow rate
Amperes
Point-of-use
On-demand
Temperature rise
Energy efficiency rating
When it comes to making comparisons between tank and tankless hot water heaters all the terms come into play. Each has a numerical equivalent to help the consumer make the right choice. In spite of that many people are surprised, even sometimes disappointed when they turn on their tankless water heater. And why is that?
A lot has been written about these two and the differences between these two. They each have their pros and cons. One of the big differences can be illustrated this way:
As you can see a tank water heater offers a lot of hot water that can be used as quickly as it can run through the pipe – then you wait for it to reheat.
The tankless is different in that there is usually a smaller but unlimited stream of hot water, unless you have installed a large unit. And why do that if you can make changes in family routine to accommodate this new process? Change can be a good thing if it saves a lot of money. The savings of an on-demand water heater can make it worthwhile to rethink the daily living patterns of the old inefficient storage tank days.