In a recent conversation, Ted Kwak, vice president of Takagi
Industrial Company USA Inc., the nation’s best-selling manufacturer
of tankless water heaters, talked about the growing popularity
of tankless models and how they can even become a valuable
part of a contractor’s marketing efforts.
Q: What do you think has caused tankless water heaters to
enjoy such a huge rise in popularity during the past few years?
A: This rise in popularity goes beyond the obvious answers
that tankless water heaters take up less space, provide virtually
limitless supplies of hot water (more than 250 gallons an hour
for some units), have little need of repair and last a lot
longer than conventional water heaters. The fact that tankless
models use far less energy than conventional units has become
increasingly important as more and more Americans become concerned
about energy consumption and energy costs. Savings on utility
bills average above 25%, while new compliance regulations are
currently driving up the cost of conventional tank water heaters.
Consumers who choose tankless also can feel good about doing
their part to conserve our energy resources.
Q: Are there certain applications for which tankless water
heaters are better suited than others?
A: Tankless technology applies to just about any residential,
commercial or industrial structure because the units can be
stand-alone or can be combined into a major system. With tankless
models sized from as little as 30 pounds and 2.2 cubic feet,
they certainly are ideal for condominiums or other compactly
designed structures where garage and storage space are at a
premium. They also are perfect in a hotel, high-rise office
or apartment building, where up to 20 tankless units can be
linked by a single control system to meet all of the building’s
hot water requirements. If one unit becomes defective, the
tankless grouping will continue to provide hot water, unlike
the failure of a conventional boiler, which brings the flow
of hot water to a standstill. Another advantage for commercial
applications is one-person installation, compared with the
crew and equipment needed to install a boiler.
Q: What are some of the more unusual tankless water heater
applications you have seen?
A: We know of one consumer who installed a tankless-powered
hydronic heating system within his sidewalk for melting snow
in the winter. Another, more common application of hydronic
heating, which has been in use for more than a century in other
parts of the world, is providing residential space heating
by running hot water through plastic tubes embedded in a cement
floor. While these systems have been powered by various heat
sources throughout their history, a tankless water heater is
the obvious heat source for today because of its minimal space
and energy requirements and low operational costs.
Q: If tankless units have little need of repair and last so
much longer than conventional water heaters, wouldn’t plumbing
contractors be cutting into future business by promoting tankless
water heaters to their customers?
A: Maybe in the shortsighted view, but the big picture tells
a different story. Tankless water heater technology represents
a major breakthrough in reducing energy consumption, and there’s
no doubt that the technology is here to stay for that reason
alone. Additionally, many consumers want to be on the cutting
edge of new technologies and are embracing tankless water heaters
wholeheartedly. Then they tell their friends, who also tell
their friends¥ou get the idea. So, contractors who add tankless
water heaters to their available products and become proficient
in the easy installation techniques of tankless units should
actually be able to expand their business base by carrying
a wider range of products.
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