UMC, Inc. always pays attention to the latest plumbing and HVAC technology trends and changes. With education as one of our core values, we take pride in learning about the latest product changes and methodology updates that affect the plumbing and HVAC industry. That’s why we want to share information about new plumbing technology that has grown increasingly popular recently, especially for multi-family projects – tankless water heaters.
Tankless water heaters operate without using a traditional tank holding water that is kept heated. Instead, water is heated as it flows through the heater, reducing energy use and increasing the output of hot water available for use. In recent years, residential tankless water heater installation has become much more popular as homeowners renovate and invest in greener home technology.
In the multi-family development world, tankless water heaters are not new. However, their recent popularity in new builds shows that this technology has some real benefits, especially for multi-family builds. Here are a few that we think are worth sharing.
- Reduced energy costs. While tankless water heater systems are more expensive to install initially, they can bring significant savings over a building’s lifetime. That’s because they use less power and less water. Many large-scale tankless water heater systems, like those used in centralized multi-family buildings, have smart sensors and controls that allow building operators to monitor energy and water usage to reduce waste and energy costs over the building’s lifetime. Additionally, tankless water heater systems typically require fewer repairs and maintenance over the system’s lifetime (usually more than 20 years) than traditional tank systems, which often need maintenance due to mineral buildup in the storage tanks.
- Better hot water distribution: One of the most significant benefits of a tankless water heater system in a multi-family development is the endless hot water supply. Unlike a traditional tank system, which requires substantial space to hold enough water for each unit’s needs, a tankless water heater system heats water on demand. Building operators don’t have to worry about hot water supply issues for each unit. There’s always hot water available!
- They’re greener! Commercial tankless water heaters, on average, have a uniform energy factor (UEF) range between 0.80 and 0.90, which is very efficient. This efficiency is a big deal for developers looking for ways to reduce energy costs over the long term in building projects due to new government efficiency standards. As more legislation is tabled to minimize energy usage in new building projects, developers must consider greener technologies like tankless water heater systems to meet these demands.
Tankless water heater systems have been around for a while, but they are becoming more popular in multi-family developments because the technology has become much more efficient. These systems are now easier to install and monitor and last longer than traditional tank systems with less maintenance over their lifetime. While they may be more expensive to install, they can bring in more savings due to the reduced energy and water costs over the building’s lifetime, making them very attractive for multi-family developments. So, if you’re planning a new multi-family project and considering a tankless water heater system, call us, and we’ll be happy to share our expertise with you!
