As electric tankless water heaters gain popularity in North America, information becomes more readily available. But not all of it is factual.
There are several myths about tankless water heaters. Let’s talk about these misconceptions — and why tankless water heaters are a great option for customers looking for a longer-lasting, more efficient water heating solution.
Myth 1: Tankless Water Heaters Aren’t Catching on Just Yet
While sales of tankless water heaters haven’t caught up with their tank storage counterparts, the market for tankless heaters is growing — and will continue to rise quickly.
According to a market analysis report by Grandview Research, the global tankless water heater market size was valued at over $3 billion in 2021 and is expected to register a continued annual growth rate of 8.7% from 2022 to 2030.
“Increasing consumer concerns over the sustainable use of energy is the main factor fueling demand for tankless water heaters,” the report states. Tankless water heaters can even be anywhere from 24%-34% more energy efficient than traditional tank storage heaters, according to Energy.gov.
There are several reasons tankless models are becoming more popular:
- They require much less space than storage tanks
- They typically come with longer warranties
- They’re easier to maintain and tend to last longer than tanks
Myth 2: Electric Tankless Water Heaters Don’t Have a Tank
While they might not have the size and bulk of their tank counterparts, many “tankless” water heaters still have small tanks built inside the unit. That may not seem like such a big deal, but because the heating elements are inside the water heater channels — or mini tanks — this design still allows for the buildup of scale, which is detrimental to the unit over time.
GE Appliances Air & Water Solutions’ lineup of electric tankless water heaters is truly tankless. The heat exchangers have an independent water flow channel and heating tubes. The water doesn’t touch the heating tubes, drastically reducing scale buildup and requiring less maintenance for customers.
Myth 3: Electric Tankless Water Heaters Are Just for Sinks
While the point-of-use electric tankless water heater is a great option for certain situations, more and more homeowners are updating their entire house with a whole-home tankless system. With more capacity to deliver on-demand hot water throughout the whole home, these tankless systems only use energy when hot water is running, increasing their energy efficiency.
While these solutions are becoming more common, there are a few things customers need to understand before exploring a whole-home electric tankless water heating system:
- First, their home should be capable of producing the electricity needed to power a unit. Whole-home systems typically require three 40-amp breakers (120 amps) to heat water for a whole house, while many houses may only have 100 amps total.
- Customers also need to know that where they live plays a major role in how efficient a whole-home solution will be. If they live in a colder climate, the temperature of the incoming groundwater will take more energy to heat and produce fewer gallons per minute of hot water, depending on the heater’s temperature setting.
- If the inlet temperature runs colder than normal or if the piping is longer across a larger house, point-of-use electric tankless water heaters can be installed as a booster around the house.
As a whole-home solution, the GE Appliances Electric Tankless Water Heater offers an intuitive design featuring an easy-to-use touch screen to adjust water temperature and settings. It also utilizes inlet and outlet temperature sensors to optimize energy usage and keep water temperature consistent.
Check out our full line of electric tankless water heaters to see which options best suit your customers’ needs.