Heat only the water you need in 2008

  • Sarah Jackson
  • Thursday, December 27, 2007 2:42pm
  • Life

Tankless water heaters, also known as “on demand” or instantaneous water heaters, have been all the rage in home improvement circles in recent years with manufacturers billing them as big energy savers.

They sound like a great green idea. They’ve been popular in Europe and Japan for ages. They save space and can be mounted to the exterior of your house for easy venting.

They heat only the water you use, which means you should never run out of hot water. Conventional tank water heaters, which typically hold 60 gallons of water or more, require off-and-on heating as well as large insulated tanks to maintain a substantial hot water supply.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

While online reviews of tankless water heaters’ efficiency have been mixed, I recently heard from Cathy Miller of Arlington who said her family’s new Bosch AquaStar tankless water heater has almost cut their PUD bill in half since she had it installed about a year and half ago.

“It’s just wonderful,” said Miller, who lives with her husband and son. “It’s amazing. I knew we could save money. I’ve been begging my husband to do it. He kept complaining about the power bill.”

Residential water heating is typically the second largest use of energy in American homes, according to Bosch.

Miller said the family can run both showers, the dishwasher and the washing machine all at once and still not run out of hot water in their single-wide mobile home, where they now have an extra closet where their old water tank used to live. Their tiny tankless water heater, which cost about $900, is mounted on the back of the house.

Their heat source is propane.

“The cost of propane is minimal because it only fires up when you’re using the hot water. It goes across these little copper coils,” she said. “It comes in cold and comes out boiling.”

If you want to get in on the water heater game and other energy-efficiency improvements, your household could be eligible for up to a $500 tax credit if you invest in improvements by Dec. 31. (The Energy Policy Act of 2005 officially ends with the 2006-2007 tax year and 2008 isn’t likely to bring similar benefits, according to my eco-sources. Bummer.) Read about the soon-to-expire tax credit options here or study up on tankless water heaters from major manufacturers such as Bosch, Takagi, Rinnai and Rheem.

Here’s to doing more now and in the new year to save energy at home.

I’ll see you in 2008!

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Photo courtesy of Kristi Nebel
Folk duo Steve and Kristi Nebel will be among the musical acts performing at the Edmonds Arts Festival, which takes place Friday through Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Kristi Nebel
Folk duo Steve and Kristi Nebel will be among the musical acts performing at the Edmonds Arts Festival, which takes place Friday through Sunday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

Audi SQ8 Wows In Motion Or At Rest. Photo provided by Audi America MediaCenter.
2025 Audi SQ8 Is A Luxury, Hot Rod, SUV

500 Horsepower and 4.0-Second, 0-To-60 MPH Speed

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Ellis Johnson, 16, left, and brother Garrett Johnson, 13, take a breather after trying to find enough water to skim board on without sinking into the sand during opening day of Jetty Island on Friday, July 5, 2019 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Epic ways to spice up your summer

Your ultimate guide to adventure, fun and reader-approved favorites!

Ian Terry / The Herald

Rose Freeman (center) and Anastasia Allison play atop Sauk Mountain near Concrete on Thursday, Oct. 5. The pair play violin and piano together at sunrise across the Cascades under the name, The Musical Mountaineers.

Photo taken on 10052017
Adopt A Stream Foundation hosts summer concert on June 14

The concert is part of the nonprofit’s effort to raise $1.5 million for a new Sustainable Ecosystem Lab.

People walk during low tide at Picnic Point Park on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Beach cleanup planned for Picnic Point in Edmonds

Snohomish Marine Resources Committee and Washington State University Beach Watchers host volunteer event at Picnic Point.

Edie Carroll trims plants at Baker's Acres Nursery during Sorticulture on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sorticulture, Everett’s garden festival, is in full swing

The festival will go through Sunday evening and has over 120 local and regional vendors.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.