The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental nonprofit Resilient Palisades to deliver a weekly “green tip” to our readers. This week’s tip was written by Doug Macmillan.
Stored hot water, familiar to most people, is passé. Traditional gas tanks often have trouble keeping up. Try living with two teenagers who take long showers, leaving barely any hot water for my wife and me. Fortunately, there are several proven solutions.
Installing a whole-house tankless water heater(s) will ensure you always have hot water on demand—no matter how many people are showering back-to-back. They are much smaller than a traditional water heater and will free up space in your home.
A gas water heater wastes approximately $150 per year in gas expense for a modest Palisades home. That’s because the pilot is running 24/7 to keep the tank full of hot water.
Here’s the lowdown on tankless water heaters for when you’re ready to make the switch (and personally, I suggest an electric):
Option 1: A Paloma tankless water heater.
Advantage: Limitless hot water and more efficient (saves energy).
Disadvantages: Uses fossil fuels, and you need to have an air intake and exhaust piping.
Notes: You need a low flow activation (0.26 GPM) to activate the heating. This unit cut our family of four’s gas bill by 30% over a traditional tank.
Option 2: A whole house electric tankless. These are typically mounted inside the house. But they can also be mounted outside with the proper weatherproofing.
Advantages: Quick to heat with endless hot water; very small footprint; no air ducting needed.
Disadvantages: Would need several storage batteries to run this off the grid (e.g., Tesla), otherwise a superb option and my suggested choice.
Whole house tankless heaters are relatively new, so be sure to use an experienced installer. Make sure all your hot water pipes are well-insulated.
I recommend an electric tankless above others because they’re the most efficient, free up space in your home and don’t use fossil fuels. An upgrade that increases comfort at home while reducing your family’s energy footprint is a win-win for you and a warming planet.
And if you missed it, be sure to read the July 22 Green Tip on small sink tankless water heaters.
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