Many people ask why tankless water heaters are healthier? So, we thought it was time to shed some light on the topic. After all, we all know how important water is for our health and well-being. But how many of us think about the quality of the water we consume and how it impacts our health? For instance, temperature fluctuations, stagnant water, scaling and sedimentation in tanks make the water we use unhealthy for our bodies. Consequently, we’re turning to tankless solutions. Let’s look at tankless water heaters in greater detail.
Why Tankless Water Heaters Are Healthier #1 Decreased Legionella Risks
Legionnaire’s Disease is a lethal form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila found in warm, stagnant or very slow-flowing water. This bacteria grows in water tanks that have high level temperature variations, scaling and sedimentation of the tanks and the formation of biofilm.
Occurences Of Legionnaire’s Disease
According to Medscape the occurrence of Legionnaires worldwide is 2-15% with outbreaks recorded in Australia, Europe, South & North America, and Africa. Some of the most recent outbreaks are:
- April 2021: Indianapolis, U.S – several members of a gym were diagnosed with Legionnaires.
- February 2021: New Jersey, U.S – 14 cases of Legionnaires presented and 1 male aged in his 60s died.
- January 2021: Sydney, Australia – cooling towers in a business were infected with Legionnaires with 17 cases reported.
- October 2020 to January 2021: Portugal – 88 people were infected with Legionnaires, which resulted in 15 deaths due to cooling towers not be disinfected.
- January 2021: Portland, U.S – 9 residents in a seniors home contracted Legionnaires, 1 person passed away.
- November 2020, New Zealand – 5 people contracted Legionnaires due to contaminated potting soil.
- November 2020, Hurstville, Australia – 2 cases of Legionnaires presented due to cooling tower contamination.
- October 2020 to November 2020, Israel – 8 people were diagnosed with Legionnaires, 3 cases were serious.
- February to March 2020: Brunswick, Australia – 4 people reportedly contracted Legionnaires at a business facility.
- September 2019: North Carolina, U.S – 141 people were infected with Legionnaires at a state fair hot tub display resulting in 4 deaths.
The number of Legionnaires outbreaks worldwide are many, with people aged 50 to 80-years most at risk. While Legionnaires does occur in people under 35-years, cases are far less frequent.
Tankless Water Heaters Reduce Legionnaire’s Disease
However, a tankless water heater reduces the risks of Legionnaires significantly. For example, Intellihot Tankless Water Heating Systems, equipped with special NASA technology, are energy and space-efficient as well as cost-effective, have numerous residential and commercial benefits and are the answer to the prevention of Legionnaire’s Disease. They make going tankless absolutely stress-free.
Why Tankless Water Heaters Are Healthier #2 No Water Stagnation
Any commercial buildings, hotels and restaurants, schools and universities, factories and public places such as stadiums that contain stored water in tanks are at risk. Some even more so post lockdown as the water tanks were not in use for months. Health issues apart, this also means poor customer experience, service interruption and reputational and financial costs. When water heaters are not used then there is a risk that the water will stagnate.
Stagnating water can increase the risk of bacteria growth linked to Legionnaires, mould and lead and copper contamination. For Legionella to occur in a water heater it can take weeks or months of inactivity. Mould, on the other hand can take days, weeks or months to develop and lead and copper contamination can occur in hours, days, weeks or months.
Why Tankless Water Heaters Are Healthier #3 Less Temperature Fluctuation
Your hot water storage tank needs to be heated to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degree Fahrenheit) or above to keep Legionnaires at bay. But the water that’s delivered to your taps should be 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) to reduce the risk of scalding and burns. However,, in some cases, this is easier said than done. Therefore, by installing a tankless hot water heater you give yourself better control of your water tank temperatures.
Why Tankless Water Heaters Are Healthier #4 Scaling or Sedimentation Reduction
Scaling and sediment in your hot water tank is the result of mineral deposits—like calcium and magnesium. Overtime, these deposits build up on the internal pipes and fittings in your system reducing it’s operational capabilities.
If scaling and sediment is left in your hot water tank you may notice pressure fluctuation, the system shuts down or ot overflows, or leakage from the tank. Corrosion of the tank can also occur, which results in major leaks or the entire tank letting go.
While tankless water heaters often develop less scaling and sediment, they still do encounter deposits. When these happen they build up on the heating elements, which then restricts the systems ability to heat efficiently. The best way to reduce build up is to flush your system annually. There are many online tutorials on how to do this safely for your particular system to improve your health.
Why Tankless Water Heaters Are Healthier #5 Less Formation of Biofilm
Biofilm that contains bacterial microbes is found in all water systems—industrial cooling towers, heat exchangers, hospital plumbing systems, residential tanks, pipes and even filter media. The biofilm is a slime that protects the microbes from threats such as disinfectant. As such, biofilm and the microbes are difficult to remove as they adapt to their environmental conditions.
If left untreated these microbes cause water contamination, food poisioning and pathogens. All of these have a detrimental effect on the health of individuals, families, patients and customers.
Why Tankless Water Heaters Are Healthier #6 Reduced Energy Cost
Hot water heaters are a costly investment for homes, motels and businesses and hospitals. Most typically last 8 to 20 years with varying purchase, installation and ongoing costs. Given this, some systems are more affordable than others over their lifespan.
A traditional water tank is found in most homes and facilities. These tanks hold around 30-50 gallons and pre-heat the water for use. These tanks are fuelled by natural gas or electricity and have a lifespane of 8-10 years. A tankless water heater, on the other hand, heats up to 86 gallons of water as it is needed. So, they are 24-34 percent more energy efficient. Plus, they last up to 20-years.
Why Tankless Water Heaters Are Healthier Key Takeaways
Rather than putting yourself at risk, consider the tankless water heater alternative. This options protects you and your family, as well as your customers, if you’re a commercial operation, from health threats. plus, it makes heating water far more efficient.
Just to recap, some reasons why tankless water heaters are healthier are:
- Decreased Legionella risks.
- No water stagnation.
- Less temperature fluctuation.
- Scaling or sedimentation reduction.
- Less formation of biofilm.
- Reduced energy costs.
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