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Bosch Tankless Water Heater FAQs

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What is a tankless water heater?

Most people in North America currently use a storage tank water heater to provide hot water in their homes. A storage tank water heater keeps water hot 24 hours a day, even while you're at work or sleeping. A tankless water heater, on the other hand, does not store hot water. It heats the water as you use it.

How can a tankless water heater heat water instantly?

When you open a faucet, the flow of the water triggers the heater to turn on. Whether you use gas or electricity, the powerful gas burners or electrical elements will turn on, rapidly heating the water as it passes through the unit. The water is heated instantly, and the time it takes to obtain hot water is directly related to the distance the hot water has to travel from the water heater to where hot water is being used. The burners or elements then shut down when you shut off the hot water. The energy that is consumed is only for the hot water that is being used.

What are the advantages of using a tankless water heater?

Because a tankless water heater turns on when you open a hot water faucet and turns off when you close the faucet, the energy that is consumed is only for the hot water that is being used. Since there is no storage of water, and thus no constant heating and re-heating of stored water, you're not wasting energy heating water when you don't need it, such as when you're sleeping or not at home. This energy savings translates to dollar savings for you and reduced impact on our environment. Furthermore, since a tankless water heater heats the water as you use it, you can have an endless supply of hot water, provided you size the unit appropriately (see our Sizing Guide to find the right model).

How much money can I save?

Depending on which model of tankless water heater you purchase, and what size storage tank you have now, and if it runs on gas or electricity, you could save anywhere from 5% to 69% off your hot water heating bill. How? Most homes use hot water for a cumulative total of about one hour per day, yet they typically keep 40 or 50 gallons (oftentimes more) of water hot 24 hours a day. Having a system that eliminates the storage and heats water only as you use it can dramatically reduce your energy consumption.

Can it really provide an endless supply of hot water?

Yes. Because storage tank water heaters store a finite amount of water, when that amount is used up your shower goes cold and you have to wait for the heater to heat the water back up (this is known as recovery time). Because a tankless water heater heats the water as it passes through the heater, you can never run out, provided flow limitations are not exceeded (see our Sizing Guide to find the right model for you).

Are there other benefits of a tankless water heater?

1. There are many advantages of having a tankless water heater in your home. Besides the money savings, endless hot water and smaller impact on the environment, a tankless water heater:
2. Is very small and can hang on the wall, thereby saving you valuable floor space.
3. Is designed with replaceable parts and is built with such materials as copper, stainless steel, and aluminum so as to last a lifetime. Energy savings is only one segment of savings -- with proper care this could be the only water heater one needs in a lifetime.
4. Is almost entirely recyclable, so if you ever decide to replace it, it doesn't have to go to the landfill.
5. Will not develop a corrosive leak like a storage tank water heater, saving you from expensive water damage in your home.
6. Note: A tankless water heater can leak if it is exposed to freezing temperatures or has a manufacturing defect.
7. Maintains its efficiency throughout the lifetime of the unit. Storage tank water heaters decrease in efficiency over time due to mineral build-up inside the tank. This is due to the fact that storage tank water heaters store hot water, giving those minerals a chance to settle out and bake from the heat onto the walls of the tank, and onto the heating element in electric models, thereby reducing heat transfer.
   

Will I still get the hot shower I'm used to now?

Yes, provided you buy the right tankless heater for you (see our Sizing Guide to find the right model). Tankless water heaters are able to function at a variety of temperatures that you can choose, and can produce hot water at the same flow rate as your standard single-headed shower provides now.

Will one tankless water heater service my entire house?

Yes. You must choose the proper model to suit your home’s hot water needs, which is based upon the maximum flow of hot water you need at any one time (see Sizing Guide to choose the right model for you). We sell tankless water heaters that are capable of handling one shower at a time and others that can sustain a maximum of two showers operating at the same time.

What if I have very hard water?

Since tankless water heaters do not store hot water, minerals have less of an opportunity to settle out of the water column and build up inside the heat exchanger. Additionally, the flow of hot water through the coiled heat exchanger flushes the product each time hot water is used. The use of a water softener is fine with a tankless water heater, and is recommended if you commonly experience hard water problems in your home.

What limitations do tankless water heaters have?

Because this type of water heater heats the water as you use it, the volume of hot water that it can deliver is directly correlated to the amount of its energy input. The bigger the burners or heating elements in the unit, the higher the volume of hot water that it can deliver. Today tankless water heaters come in various sizes to suit most homes’ needs. Even if you need to be operating multiple showers at once, tankless water heaters can keep up (see Sizing Guide to choose the right model for you).

How do I properly size a tankless water heater for my home?

You need to choose the model that can deliver the volume of hot water to meet your needs. The best method for sizing this type of water heater is to know how many showers each model can run simultaneously. We have models that can run either one or two showers at a time. And remember, a tankless water heater can deliver endless hot water, shower after shower. See our Sizing Guide to determine which tankless water heater would be right for you. Or you can call us toll-free at 800-503-5028 and we would be happy to help you identify the proper model for your home.

Can I fill a hot tub with a tankless water heater?

Yes. Because tankless water heaters provide an endless supply of hot water, you can fill a tub of any size. It is only a question of time, meaning that our larger units can fill a tub faster than our smaller units. Keep in mind that some tubs draw water at high flow rates, so it may be necessary to limit the flow so that the tankless water heater can adequately heat the water that is being called for.

Is this a new technology?

No. Europe, Asia and South America, where energy costs are more expensive than here in North America, have been using tankless water heaters for 75 years. Bosch Water Heating has been selling and supporting tankless water heaters in the United States since 1979. However, most Americans are just now learning of this technology and its benefits.

Information Source: Bosch Water Heating