Hot water is essential in all households. People use hot water mostly for cooking, cleaning, and sterilizing. But in this fast-paced world that we live in, getting hot water in an instant has never been more necessary.
Do you love to have your cup of tea everyday or need hot water for cooking or cleaning without ever bothering to turn on the stove or use the traditional water heater?
Now, to keep up with the fast-moving and ever-changing consumer trends, companies responsible for creating household water heaters have developed under sink water heaters that supply residential kitchens and bathrooms with instant hot water.
If you haven’t heard of under sink water heaters before, you might probably be wondering, “How are they actually different from the conventional water heaters?” Good question. And, good thing you’ve stumbled on this article, because what you’re seeing here is the ultimate guide to sink water heaters. Interested? Let’s go!
So, what is an under sink water heater?
An under sink water heater, as the name suggests, is a small electric device that can be installed under a sink to provide hot water instantly.
The device is connected to the pipes between the sink and the home’s water supply. In this way, the under sink water heater automatically heats up the water coming from the supply before the water reaches the sink’s faucet.
Most under sink water heaters store hot water in a small compartment, which will be readily available when it is needed. Under sink water heaters are also known to be energy efficient as they consume less power to function compared to conventional water heaters. Depending on the complexity of the installation, you can do the installation yourself or hire a help of a professional plumber and an electrician to do it for you. If the latter is the case, you can contact a professional for water heater installation Tulsa, OK, who has the skills and experience to properly install your new under sink water heater.
Reasons why you might want an under sink water heater
Getting an under sink water heater should be beneficial to your household in many ways. Here are some of the key benefits of an under sink water heater:
- It has a compact size – Most under sink water heaters are compact as they don’t require a lot of space to install.
- It is easy to install – If you have basic knowledge and skills on plumbing and electrical set-up, then you can install it easily by yourself. Most units come with a step-by-step instruction and easy-to-follow guides that will make the installation process relatively quick and easy. It won’t take you more than a few minutes to install your new under sink water heater.
- It is energy-efficient – If you think that under sink water heaters consume a lot of energy, think again! An under sink water heater is, in fact, designed to be more energy-efficient than conventional water heaters. You will be able to cut down on your home’s energy consumption because it requires less energy to heat the water. You don’t also have to heat up the water constantly to keep a large amount of hot water.
- It heats up water faster – Compared to heating up your water using a stove or traditional water heater, the under sink water heater gets hot water a lot faster. Whether you’re using a tank or tankless system, you will get the same fast result. Under sink water heaters are designed to make the heating process quick, so you don’t have to wait more than a few seconds for hot water. You’ll enjoy instant hot water any time.
- It provides uninterrupted hot water supply – By using a under sink water heater, you will never run out of hot water supply! It provides hot water constantly, making it suitable for various uses, such as showers, bathtubs, kitchen sinks, or any place where you will use hot water regularly. With this device, you will be able to have hot water any time you want.
- It creates a low impact on the environment – Because under sink water heaters consumes less energy, they are better for the environment.
- It saves you money – Most under sink water heaters are reasonably priced. Its energy-efficient properties will enable you to save energy costs by up to 50%
- It saves you time – Getting an under sink water heater for point-of-delivery saves you a lot of time. You will no longer have to wait those one or two minutes for your water to be heated and delivered into your sink.
- No more wasting water – While waiting for your hot water to be delivered, the cold water has to be flushed out of the pipes, which also means that’s money going down the drain. Well, under the sink water heaters will solve the problem. You will have hot water whenever you turn on the tap for your hot water.
- The maintenance is easy – Like your traditional house water heater system, the under sink water heater has a shelf life, as well. Only a regular maintenance will ensure its longer service life. But there’s no need to worry, as it is easy to clean and maintain.
The benefits of installing an under sink water heater system should boost your hot water supply. It is just about perfect for any household.
Important things to be considered when choosing an under sink water heater
- Size – Size is one of the most important considerations when purchasing an under sink water heater. You should determine first how much space your kitchen or bathroom has. Calculating the space will enable you to determine the size of your under sink water heater. This will prevent you from having problems in trying to fit the device to your kitchen or bathroom.
- Capacity – Capacity is also an important factor that you should keep in mind when choosing an under sink water heater. You should know how much hot water you need on a daily basis before so that you will get the right capacity. Under sink water heaters are available in both tank (2.5 to 7 gallons) or tankless options. If you need more hot water, then you will need a larger tank.
- Energy efficiency – Cost will also be a significant factor when choosing an under sink water heater. You want to save on energy costs while getting all the hot water you need. Fortunately, under sink water heaters are usually more energy-efficient than traditional water heaters. But if you’re really concerned about the cost, then you’ll have to look specifically for the energy-saving units, which will help cut down on your electricity bill.
- Safety features – Choose under sink water heaters that have the proper safety features. Some units feature a thermostat, which makes heating water easier and safer to use. Others come with a temperature control where you can adjust the temperature of the water to your liking. Modulation is another safety feature that lets you change the heat output in response to the flow rate of water running through the device. This safety component helps maintain your water’s temperature no matter what the flow rate is.
- Installation – There are many varieties of under sink water heaters, and each of them has different installation and maintenance requirements. Some units are quite easy to install – all you have to do is to simply plug the unit into an outlet and, voila! It is now ready to use. Others, though, may require more plumbing and electrical work to make it functional. In this case, it’s better to hire a professional plumber or electrician for the installation process. Make sure that you understand the different installation and maintenance requirements before making a purchase.
- Price and warranty – Under sink water heaters are available in different price points. Before purchasing a new unit, first you have to be clear about your needs and, of course, your budget. But if you’re really looking for a longer-lasting unit, always choose the one with a superb quality even if you have to pay a bit more. Another, choose a unit with a warranty. The longer the warranty, the surer you can tell that the product is durable.
Types of under sink water heaters
There are two main types of under sink water heaters. Your choice of an under sink water heater depends on how much power you will allow it to consume and how fast you want the hot water to get to the faucet.
Tank heater – The tank heater consists basically of a heater with a tank or compartment that stores hot water for ready use. The tank water heater normally heats up a small amount of water after it is turned on. Afterwards, it will store the heated water until it is released through the faucet and onto the sink. The average amount of water that the tank under sink water heater stores runs from 2.5 to 7 gallons, which is enough for providing hot water for two to three people in the morning.
Of the two types, the tank type is easier to install because you would only need to connect it to the water supply and to the sink. But there’s one downside, though – it provides only a limited supply of water. It means that after using up all the hot water stored in the tank, you’ll have to heat up another small amount of water again, which takes a bit of work.
Tankless heater – As the name implies, this type doesn’t use a tank to heat and store water. Instead, it automatically heats up the running water on the supply and through the faucet. With a tankless under sink water heater, you will have a continuous supply of hot water without having to reheat it.
If there’s no water running through the pipes, the tankless heater will stay turned off until you turn on the faucet. As it doesn’t use a tank to store hot water, the tankless option is smaller compared to the tank heater.
The number one advantage of using a tankless heater is obvious – you’ll have hot water instantly whenever you need it. Another advantage is that it doesn’t require a lot of space, unlike the tank variety. Plus, you don’t have to wait a few minutes – or even a number of seconds – for your water to become hot.
However, the obvious drawback of a tankless heater is that it can be pretty complicated to install. You would have to properly connect it to your home’s water supply by calibrating the pressure and checking the wirings in order to make it work.
