Water on demand, often associated with tankless water heaters, works by heating water only when you need it, providing a continuous flow without relying on a storage tank.
The Process of Heating Water On Demand
Instead of storing a large volume of hot water like traditional tank heaters, a tankless system springs into action the moment you open a hot water tap.
Here's the breakdown of how it functions:
- Demand Initiated: When a hot water faucet is turned on, a sensor in the tankless unit detects the flow of water.
- Cold Water Enters: cold water flows through a heat exchanger in the unit.
- Heating Element Engages: Simultaneously, the system activates its heating element. This is either a natural gas burner or an electric element.
- Instant Heating: As the cold water passes through the heat exchanger, the powerful burner or element rapidly heats it to the desired temperature.
- Hot Water Delivery: The heated water is then sent directly to the open faucet.
As a result, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. This means you don't need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. The system continues to heat water as long as the faucet is on.
Key Advantages
Tankless systems offer several benefits stemming from this on-demand process:
- Continuous Hot Water: You won't run out of hot water during peak usage times.
- Energy Efficiency: Heating water only when needed can reduce energy waste compared to constantly maintaining a tank of hot water.
- Space Saving: These units are typically much smaller than traditional tanks and can often be mounted on a wall.
In essence, water on demand provides hot water instantaneously by rapidly heating water as it flows through the unit, eliminating the need for storage.
