A new water heater is something that home owners find themselves replacing after about 10-15 years, from newly installed, with the average age being 10.7 years. The US Department of Energy suggests that homeowners begin to research new water heaters at about the 7th birthday of their current unit, just so they are prepared in case the water heater fails.

This one house component accounts for the third largest energy cost in your home, about 12% of the typical home utility bill. That is the reason that tankless water heaters have been in the construction news in the last few years. Also, called “on demand” or “instantaneous” water heaters, many new construction builders are including this type of water heater in new homes being built in today’s market.

Tankless water heaters deliver hot water as it is needed, rather than storing it in a heated tank. As soon as a hot water faucet is turned on, the cold water passes through a pipe into the tankless water heater, where an element heats the water. It is then delivered to the faucet.

Energy efficiency for homes that use 41 gallons or less of water each day, these tankless water heaters can be 24%-34% more energy efficient. EnergyStar indicates that a typical family can save $100 or more per year with the installation of a tankless water heater.

These units can initially cost more than their conventional water heater counterpart, but typically will last longer and are less costly to operate, and use energy, so the initial cost may be offset.
Check out more information at: Energystar.gov