Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless heaters don’t store and heat water, they heat it on demand as you need it. Tankless water heaters are energy-efficient in large part because they have virtually none of the “standby” heat loss that is inherent in the standard tank- or “storage-” type water heaters in this country.
One complaint some have about these devices is that if they aren’t sized properly, they aren’t capable of delivering enough water to serve several uses at the same time. Both of these problems are usually due to the unit being undersized for the anticipated usage. Another complaint is that when multiple people in a house attempt to use the hot water simultaneously, nobody gets enough of it.
Tankless heaters also require 5-15 seconds to heat water to its desired temperature. In large homes where there are already long waits for hot water, the additional time it takes to reach the user may seem interminable, and it also wastes water.
Solar Hot Water Heaters
With many people in Maryland and across the country now focused on reducing their carbon footprint, there has been increasing interest in renewable energy. Arguably the best and most cost-effective way to do this is to install a solar-thermal water heating system. Solar-thermal means using the heat of the sun directly, rather than turning the sun’s energy into electricity then using the electricity to do the work. Most people use lots of hot water for washing and cleaning, so this is an excellent place to start reducing carbon emissions.
Solar-thermal water heating systems are becoming more and more cost effective due to recent rises in energy prices. Depending on the levels of sunshine where you live, and how much hot water you use, the system will generally pay for itself within a short period of time. In addition, houses with eco-friendly features tend to stand out in the market and sell more quickly. You should notice an immediate fall in your fuel bills, particularly in the summer. Costs can be offset even further by government grants which help people install solar water heating.
