Bosch Tankless Water Heater

When it comes to tankless water heaters, Bosch is one of the most respected manufacturers. What kind of tankless hot water applications can Bosch help your family with?

Bosch tankless water heaters can be placed in three specific groups: Gas, Electric, and point-of-use. With Bosch, you have a variety of choices, and you can always find something very specific to apply to your situation. Bosch is undoubtedly a leader in the tankless water heater field, producing over one and half million units every year.

Bosch gas tankless water heaters come in a variety of sizes. The largest capacity heater is the new 2700ES. This mother of all tankless water heaters can supply hot water for three major applications at the same time, such as a washer, shower and dishwasher. Better yet, you will still have hot water after using all three at the same time. The first step down is the Bosch Aquastar 2400ES. This model will allow use of two major hot water applications at the same time, and has an expected 20 year life.

Next is the Bosch 1600P and 1600PS. These heaters will provide up to 4.3 gallons of hot water per minute. They are also compact, small enough to hang on a wall. The Bosch 1000P is the smallest tankless gas water heater available from Bosch. It is designed mainly for small homes, such as cabins or cottages that may be natural gas (NG) or liquid propane (LP) powered.

What if your home is not propane or natural gas powered? Bosch electric tankless water heaters may be your best choice. Bosch makes two electric tankless water heaters, and they are classified under the PowerStar brand name. First is the Powerstar AE125, an electric tankless heater that can provide 3.7 gallons per minute. That should be enough for one bathtub or shower, or two sinks at the same time. Available at a lower price is the Power Star AE115, which provides up to 2.3 gallons per minute. The AE 125 is recommended in colder climates, while those in warmer states should be able to use the AE 115.

What about point-of-use water heater? Bosch distributes two different lines in this area. First, the Ariston GL line has three different models. The three models here offer either two and a half, four, and six gallon capacity heaters. Designed for use with either one or two sinks, these point of use heaters offer immediate hot water when installed in these locations.

The other point-of-use line offered by Bosch is the PowerStar AE series. Four different models are available in this line, the AE 3.4, AE 7.2, AE 9.5 and AE12. The nice thing about these Bosch Power Star models is that they are so compact, they fit right underneath the sink and can be mounted in almost any direction.

So as you can see, Bosch tankless water heaters can really simplify your life, as they offer unlimited hot water in easy to use applications.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless hot water heaters are becoming popular as more people see the advantage of “going tankless.” So why consider a tankless water heater?

There are several advantages in using an on demand water heater. The main advantage is an increase in energy savings, and a corresponding reduction in your energy bill. This is because a regular water heater is constantly turning on in order to heat the water inside the storage tank, whether you are using it or not. As the water cools and energy is lost, the hot water heater has to work to heat it back up.

This is called standby loss, the energy lost from the water sitting there. Most people will save about 20 percent off their water heating bill by installing a tankless water heater. Estimates place the water heating portion of your energy budget at about 15 percent of your total energy cost, so you can see how this is a significant cost.

Another advantage of a tankless hot water system is the availability of unlimited hot water. The heating mechanism is activated by the flow of water, so when you or your family demand hot water, the system can produce it for as long as you need it. The only limitation is based on the size of the tankless heater you install. Whole house systems generally produce between 3-5 gallons of hot water per minute. Compare that to a 40-50 gallon standard heater that most houses have.

There are two types of tankless hot water systems, electric and gas. Electric tankless water heaters are generally smaller, and designed for a point of use application. This means is can be used for just one area in the house. Gas tankless water heaters can be used for the whole house provided a large enough heater is installed. Instantaneous water heaters like this are either natural gas or propane powered, and should be installed by a professional.

Costs are of course another consideration. Tankless water heaters generally cost 2-3 times as much as a traditional water heater. Add to that installation fees which are higher as well. The higher initial cost is offset by a lower energy bill. Dealers can do the math for you based on your current energy and water bills. They can also explain what the major manufacturers such as Rinnia, Titan, Bosch and Noritz have to offer. Expect to save in the area of $50-100 per year when using a whole house tankless water system.

Most tankless systems will last upwards of 20 years. Compare that to a traditional water heater which generally has a life span of 10-15 years. That is another factor to consider when looking into buying a tankless hot water heater.