Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Return on Investment (ROI) on Tankless Water Heaters


A payback analysis every energy conscious consumer should consider


2. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (July 2006) the average American household consumes 87 gallons of hot water per dayHowever the question still exists: how much would you really save on your water heating bill using a tankless water heater?What do these numbers mean?1. The percent annual savings using a tankless water heater over a traditional tank system is 50% or $375While other gas tankless water heaters are designed to create a constant flow of hot water to two or three showers simultaneously.Many of the more popular brands of gas tankless water heaters come with extras that make the units easier to use or maintain for people who don't want to be bothered with ongoing tankless water heater maintenance such as remote temperature control and an easy to use wall-mounting bracket, safety features such as oxygen depletion sensing systems and overheating sensors.So the total cost of heating water using a tankless water heater is $343 + $17 or $360.� The cost of 5,900 kWh: 5,900 kWh/ year x $0.11/ kWh = $649/ year31. Energy costs to heat the water from its incoming temperature to the desired temperature.12. Standby energy costs: in the case of traditional tank heaters, standby cost is the cost of the energy to keep the water hot in the tank all day. For a tankless water heater standby cost is the cost of energy when the tankless water heater is running idle (minimal).Unfortunately, the concept of high bills is now becoming a reality for many people and so they are now starting to examine their bills and their water heaters.1. The incoming water temperature from which the Department of Energy (DOE) calculations are made, has been established at 57F. In many parts of the U.S. one does not normally experience inlet temperatures this cost year round however, we used 57F as our inlet temperature. 110 oF is the average household hot water operating temperature. This translates to 53 degrees of temperature rise for both tank and tankless water heating systems� Average energy to heat water to 110 oF is 6.2 kWSo let us examine these costs for both traditional tank heaters and tankless water heaters in detail.3. Installation costs: This is the cost to install the heater and all its piping systemAll of these features make tankless water heaters a breeze to run.� The cost to keep one gallon of water hot is $0.003� Power to heat up 1 gallon of water from 57 oF to 110 oF according to the multi-housing laundry association is 0.2 kWh� Average annual idle cost for a tankless water heater: $17There are a lot of tankless water heater manufactures claiming a wide range of savings on your next water heating bill. A quick search on the web will show you a percent reduction of up 80%.Disclaimer: The information on the system, product or material presented herein is provided for informational purposes only. Please ensure that you consult a qualified technician prior to installing a tankless water heater or any suggestions put forward by e-Smart Living.There are no warranties, either expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of this informationThese kinds of people generally either accept the expensive heating bills that they receive in the mail, or they reduce the amount of hot water and heat that they use and try to conserve dollars that way.� Daily power needed to heat the water to 110F is: 1.5 hours x 6.2 kW = 9.3 kWhSo the total annual cost of heating water using a traditional tank system is $649 + $85 or $736.4. Given the longer life of a tankless water heater at 22 years versus a tank system 10 years there is the potential of saving over $4,000 over the long term.� So, the cost to keep 21,145 gallons of water hot (standby): 21,945 gallons/ year x $0.003/ gallon = $87Average annual tankless water heater costsYou will only need to look at a comparison of your bills after using the gas tankless water heater for a few months and you will see how cost efficient it truly is.� Annual hot water demand: 87 gallons / day x 335 days / year = 29,145 gallons/ year2� Annual costs to heat water using a tankless water heater is: 9.5 kWh/ day x 335 days/ year x $0.11/kWh = $3433. In addition there is the potential for tax credits for any tankless water heater. (Please visit http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm for more information )3. Average cost of electricity for the United States at the time of writing, is $0.11 kWh, as per the DOE.Gas tankless water heaters can be used in the home in many different ways according to your specific needs. Some gas tankless water heaters are designed to create hot water for a single point in the home while other gas tankless water heaters can be used for a washer and dryer, a kitchen sink, or a solitary shower.

Disclaimer: The information on the system, product or material presented herein is provided for informational purposes only. Please ensure that you consult a qualified technician prior to installing a tankless water heater or any suggestions put forward by e-Smart Living.There are no warranties, either expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information




Author: Shelley Moore


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