Are you tired of waiting for hot water to come out of your faucet? Or maybe you’re tired of running out of hot water during your shower. If you’re looking for a solution, an electric tankless water heater may be the answer. However, before making the investment, it’s important to understand the energy consumption and costs associated with this appliance.
How To Use This Calculator
Using this energy calculator is a simple and will help you determine the costs of running your appliance. Click on ‘Calculate’ to use the predefined values, or enter your daily usage in hours, appliance watts, and your current energy costs in dollars. The calculator will provide you with the daily, monthly, and yearly results. It’s important to ensure the accuracy of the information entered to get the most accurate results.
Hours Used Per Day
Enter the number of hours you estimate the appliance will be on throughout the day. To use fractions of an hour please use a decimal point in the form.
For example: 1 hour and 30 mintes would be 1.5, and 3 hours and 15 minutes would be 3.25
Power Used in Watts
The calculator already includes a default average wattage. If your appliance uses a different wattage then enter it in the calculator.
Your Energy Rate in kWh
The calculator includes an average energy rate (price in $/kWh) to use for the calculation. This may not be the exact price that you’re currently paying for electricity. If you know your energy rate please enter your price per kilowatt-hour.
Energy Consumption
An electric tankless water heater uses a significant amount of energy to heat water as it passes through the unit. The amount of energy it uses is dependent on the temperature of the incoming water and the desired output temperature. To illustrate this concept, let’s assume that the incoming water temperature is 55°F and we want the output temperature to be 120°F. Using the defaults provided (6600 watts and $0.12/kWh), we can calculate that it would take approximately 8.7 kWh to heat 40 gallons of water (the average amount used in a shower) from 55°F to 120°F.
It’s important to note that the continuous flow of water through the unit also affects the energy consumption. The longer the water flows through the unit, the more energy is required to maintain the desired output temperature.
Importance and Relevance
Electric tankless water heaters have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their energy efficiency and space-saving design. In addition to providing instant hot water, they also save money on utility bills compared to traditional tank water heaters. With the rising costs of energy, it’s important to consider more energy-efficient appliances that help to reduce overall energy consumption and costs.
Cost in Dollars of Energy Usage
Calculating the cost of energy usage for an electric tankless water heater is simple. We can use the formula:
Cost = Energy Consumption (kWh) x Energy Price ($/kWh)
Using the example above, where it takes 8.7 kWh to heat 40 gallons of water from 55°F to 120°F, the cost would be:
Cost = 8.7 kWh x $0.12/kWh = $1.04
This means that for a single shower, it would cost $1.04 to use an electric tankless water heater.
Money Saving Tips
Although the initial cost of an electric tankless water heater may be higher than a traditional tank water heater, it can save money in the long run. Here are some money-saving tips to consider:
- Use low-flow showerheads to reduce the amount of water flowing through the unit.
- Install the electric tankless water heater closer to the point of use to reduce energy loss in the pipes.
- Set the output temperature to no higher than 120°F to reduce energy consumption.
- Consider installing a timer or motion sensor to automatically turn off the unit when not in use.
- Check for any leaks or drips in the unit to avoid wasting water and energy.
By following these tips, homeowners can significantly reduce their energy consumption and save money on utility bills over time.
In conclusion, an electric tankless water heater is an energy-efficient appliance that provides instant hot water while saving money on utility bills. However, it’s important to understand the energy consumption and costs associated with this appliance before making the investment. By following these money-saving tips, homeowners can reduce their energy consumption and save money over time.
