Tankless Truth™: Tankless Water Heaters Work in Cold, Northern States

There are a lot of people out there who believe tankless water heaters do not work well with cold groundwater temperatures. We hear this mostly in places where it gets below freezing like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. It’s a misunderstanding that has led many plumbers and contractors to not recommend tankless technology to their clients. By providing a recommendation based on misinformation or myth, professionals are missing out on the many benefits a tankless water heater could provide their customers. 

The truth is tankless water heaters will still deliver 5 gallons per minute (GPM) of hot water with 40-degree Fahrenheit groundwater. That is equal to running three showers simultaneously. 

We know tankless technology works in even colder temperatures like Canada. Rinnai will typically sell over 100,000 gas tankless water heaters per year to our northern neighbor. If tankless units are proven to work in Canada, where groundwater temperatures are as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit or 3 degrees Celsius, they can certainly handle similar climates in northern US states. Still providing adequate amounts of hot water when needed for a home or business to function. 

Tankless Benefits for Northern States 

When you get called to your next job, there are some great benefits to consider that could improve the quality of life for customers who get hit with winter head-on. Here are a few to keep in mind:

• Tankless can keep up with household demand: With cooler groundwater temperatures, many believe it takes more energy and time to heat water to the desired temperature, reducing the amount of hot water available. But a single tankless model can provide hot water up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit at 5 GPM. For perspective, in a residential home, an average shower head will deliver about 1.5-2.0 GPM. Considering the average shower is about 105 degrees F, this can equate to as much as three showers delivering unlimited hot water simultaneously.
  
  
• Never run out of hot water: In general, the hot water recovery time is much slower for a standard tank water heater and can be amplified in cold groundwater areas. A 40-gallon tank can take upwards of 30 minutes to an hour to fully recover before hot water is available again. But because water is continuously heated as needed via a tankless unit, a customer will never have to choose between taking a hot shower, doing a load of laundry, or running the dishwasher. The technology ensures a steady stream of hot water regardless of external temperatures, which can be especially beneficial in chilly climates.
  
  
• Tankless water heaters are very efficient: Rated by a Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), tankless water heaters are highly efficient hot water appliances often coming with an ENERGY STAR® certification. As an example, Rinnai’s new SENSEI RX™ offers an industry-leading UEF of 0.98. This offers customers additional energy-saving benefits, resulting in lower utility bills. And during the winter, utilities tend to rise quickly, so using a more efficient solution could save money overall. 
  
  
• Tankless water heaters can provide faster hot water at the faucet: Some tankless water heaters come with additional features to make hot water even faster. Tankless units such as Rinnai’s SENSEI RXP models can come equipped with a built-in pump for recirculation. This results in faster delivery of hot water when it’s needed. 

Jumping into a cold shower when it’s freezing outside is not on many people’s lists. Luckily, some tankless products also come with smart recirculation capabilities, such as Rinnai’s Smart-Circ™ Intelligent Recirculation™. This feature learns a user's hot water usage pattern and schedules recirculation accordingly to provide clients with faster hot water when they need it. 

Northern regions shouldn’t dissuade you from recommending tankless water heaters to your customers. With the benefits of high efficiency and unlimited hot water, tankless can enhance your customers’ lives. And plumbers can offer clients a variety of options, no matter where they are in North America. To learn more about the other common myths associated with tankless water heaters, visit www.rinnai.us/tanklesstruths. 

David Federico is Senior Director of Marketing at Rinnai America Corporation with primary responsibilities leading the marketing strategy for its residential and commercial products. Prior to joining the organization in 2016, David held marketing leadership positions at multinational corporations including Georgia-Pacific. David is a graduate of Georgia State University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration - Marketing.