One of the biggest energy-users in your home is your hot water heater. A traditional water heater has a fairly large tank where water is heated and stored. The hot water sits there in the tank ready to be drawn off as required.

The obvious problem with this type of system is that heat is lost from the water through the walls of the tank. The result is that the heating system built into the hot water tank must regularly reheat the same water that was already heated before.

In other words, a traditional hot water tank system uses energy even when the water itself is not being used. The longer between hot water uses, the more energy is wasted – for example when you go on vacation or go visiting for a weekend.

The amount of energy wasted can be reduced by increasing the insulation built into the tank itself. This reduces the amount of heat lost through the outer tank walls, and cuts down on the requirement to reheat the water in the tank.

Energy can also be saved by reducing the temperature setting of the system so that the water in the tank is not heated as much as it otherwise would be. It is not unusual when people are surprised how hot their hot water is. Most household uses do not require scalding hot water – especially if you want to be environmentally responsible.

An increasingly popular alternative to the traditional hot water heater is what is called the tankless water heater. As the name implies these systems don’t have a tank. As hot water is needed it is drawn through the tankless system and heated as it passes through.

In other words there is no tank requiring insulation, and no already-heated water to lose heat and require reheating. As hot water is required it is simply heated and sent on to taps, showers or washing machines.

The advantages of a tankless water heating system are that you will save some energy over the long term. The system is also much less bulky than a traditional tank heater which makes it ideal for installations where space is at a premium.

The most important disadvantage is that it is more costly to install than a traditional system. Some users also find that their system is not capable of providing enough hot water for multiple uses at the same time. For example to feed two showers and a washing machine at the same time may result in water that is not as hot as desired.

Depending on the installation, other users also complain of longer wait times than with traditional systems before the water at the tap is hot enough to be used. This is especially the case where taps are located one or two floors above the tankless system. In this kind of situation some of the energy savings will be offset by increased water usage.

The geographic location of your home is another important consideration. A tankless water heater may not work as well in a colder climate like you would find in a place like Calgary or Buffalo as opposed to a warmer climate. If you are in Atlanta, for example, an Atlanta plumber will be the best one to advise you on the best Atlanta water heater for your situation.

As tankless sytems evolve and develop these shortcomings may gradually be overcome. But for the present it is best to have a professional plumbing service assess your requirements and make a hot water system recommendation based on your specific needs.