Water Heater Sizing: Do You Need More Than One?
Tankless water heaters can meet the needs of any household, but in certain situations, you’ll benefit from having two or more smaller systems rather than one large system. In these cases, installing more than one water heater provides greater comfort and convenience.
Efficiency for Larger Homes
If you have a large home and only one water heater, chances are at least one bathroom or hot water appliance is located far from the source of hot water. That means it will take longer for hot water to reach that location and the water will lose heat as it travels, costing you in terms of energy.
A point-of-use water heater solves this problem. This system is installed near the fixture or appliance that requires hot water. For instance, if you have a bathroom on the opposite end of the house from the main water heater, you can install a separate point-of-use system to supply the bathroom.
Hot Water Where You Need it
Locations outside the house, such as an outdoor hot tub, a pool house shower or a bathroom in the garage are good candidates for a point-of-use tankless system. Installing a separate system for these applications lets you enjoy hot water there without having to upgrade the water heater in your house and run plumbing outdoors.
A Boost for Your Appliances
Some dishwashers perform better at temperatures higher than the one you might prefer for your home’s hot water supply. Using high-temperature water in your dishwasher also helps sanitize your dishes more effectively. If you want hotter water for your dishwasher, but you don’t want to raise your water heater’s temperature, consider installing a point-of-use tankless system to act as a booster heater.
A tankless system is an energy-efficient way to back up a solar water heating system. Because it doesn’t run constantly the way a conventional tank system does, it won’t cost you when it’s not in use.
If you think your home could benefit from multiple water heaters, contact us at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions in the Orlando area to learn more about your options.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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