| Every little bit helps as the saying goes. In the case | | | | resources. |
| of the energy required for hot water, the average | | | | An alternative that gets around this issue is the |
| home spends anything from 20 % to 30 % of their | | | | tankless water heater. This works as the name |
| utility bills on making hot water. This can mount up, | | | | suggests. It is pretty much an on demand hot water |
| especially as traditional energy sources that are used | | | | system. The key component of this system is a heat |
| to heat the water increase in cost. This article will run | | | | exchanger. The heat exchanger is still powered by |
| you through a few types of residential hot water | | | | traditional energy sources, like electricity or gas, but it |
| heaters that may save you some money on these | | | | is only activated when hot water is needed. Part of |
| monthly costs. | | | | the plumbing of the home is wound around the heat |
| Most homes have a water heater that is powered | | | | exchanger. As the water passes through the |
| by electricity or gas. The general set up is a storage | | | | plumbing around the heat exchanger, the water is |
| tank that holds a certain amount of water. In reality, | | | | heated. |
| the storage tank has an inner bottle, made of glass | | | | This system can save on electricity or gas usage. It |
| that is covered by insulation, to store the water. The | | | | is more expensive but also tends to last longer than |
| metal casing protects the glass and insulation from | | | | a traditional tank water system because it is only |
| damage or breakage. An electric element or a gas line | | | | used when needed. |
| that ignites a burner is positioned at the bottom of | | | | Another option that is gaining popularity and will |
| the tank so that it can heat the water. This normally | | | | continue in this way is to add solar power to your |
| occurs when the temperature of the water drops to | | | | heating system. Solar hot water systems are really |
| a certain level (by the way, an energy saving tip is to | | | | just the same storage and heating device - so it |
| turn the temperature of the thermostat that controls | | | | could be a tank or tankless water system - but the |
| this process down. Many people set it to 140 F when | | | | energy source comes from the Sun rather than via a |
| 120 F is sufficient). | | | | utility company. |
| The major disadvantage of this system, apart from | | | | There are two types of solar hot water systems. A |
| the fact that it uses two sources of energy that are | | | | passive system probably won't provide all your |
| becoming more expensive each year, is that it must | | | | energy needs but can augment the use of electricity |
| constantly heat the water. For instance, if the water | | | | or gas thus saving you money on utility bills. An |
| is not used, some of the heat will be lost to the | | | | active system uses solar panels to create electricity. |
| environment depending on the level or quality of | | | | This can be used to heat the water you use. An |
| insulation. This means more electricity or gas is used | | | | active solar power system with a efficient heating |
| to re-heat the water. This is the cost of having hot | | | | storage system can save you plenty on water |
| water at the turn of a faucet. Many people think this | | | | heating bills. |
| cost is unnecessary and an inefficient use of energy | | | | |