"Instant" Hot Water
A water heater alone can't provide instant hot water-no matter if it's a tank or tankless water heater. But when the right features, capabilities, location and technology are in place, some water heaters can provide nearly instantaneous hot water. Read more to consider factors that may impact the production of "instant" hot water.
Capabilities: A built-in recirculation pump* is one example of a product feature that can help deliver hot water instantly. This feature circulates hot water to ensure it is available quickly. Unused hot water is returned to the water heater to be heated again to reduce waste.
*It may be necessary to install a recirculating piping system.
Proximity: Without a recirculation pump, the water heater’s distance from the water fixtures will impact the time it takes for the fixture to receive hot water. The hot water you need will arrive faster when the water heater is close to the fixture, as the piping is shorter between the two.
Temperature: Hot water delivery can also vary based on where the hot water piping runs through your home and how well it is insulated. Piping placed in a crawl space or attic may be impacted by seasonal temperature changes. Without a recirculation system, 40 feet of piping placed in a crawl space will take longer to produce hot water at a fixture in a northern United States winter than 40 feet of piping located in an attic during the summer in the southern United States.
How can technology help deliver instant hot water to a fixture? Learn more here.
Help Me Choose!
Looking for more help? Answer a few simple questions in our XPERT™ Water Heater Selection Tool, and you'll be on your way to narrowing down your search to three choices that fit your lifestyle and your unique needs.