Water is a commonly overlooked, yet integral, part of a commercial building. As long as warm water is reaching the faucet, the systems in place can go unmonitored. With the rise in popularity for environmentally-inclined infrastructure, facility managers will need to take a closer look at their water heating infrastructure moving forward. How do you know if it’s time to switch from a tank water heater to its tankless counterpart? Here are a few key indicators: Consistent operational efficiency On an average day at the office, maintenance teams can be pulled every which way. Broken air conditioning systems, lights that have gone out and routine cleanup can quickly fill up the to-do list. Water heating should be the last thing on a facility manager’s mind. Tank water heaters are more susceptible to rusting, which can lead to leaks in the system. This is because the water sits in the tank and warms over time. If the anode rod isn’t changed regularly, major problems could occur. Due to this, the average lifetime expectancy of this type of system is just 10 to 15 years, according to the Department of Energy. Tankless water heaters warm the water as it passes through the system, meaning it doesn’t have a chance to rest inside. This helps give it an expected lifetime of up to 25 years if maintained properly. With no chance for leaks or system downtimes, facility managers can easily cross this aspect of their daily routine off their list. The Environmental Protection Agency reported that out of all total water usage in the average commercial building, 50 percent will directly rely on tankless water heaters. Buildings with hundreds of occupants that rely on tank water heaters are more susceptible to extended downtimes due to the stress put on a system. Tankless water heaters can be used at the point-of-use, such as directly under a sink, to give the whole system the extra strength it needs to distribute high volumes of water on a regular basis.

Commercial buildings can achieve consistent operational efficiency with tankless water heaters.

Reduce costs Water and energy are expensive resources required to keep a building operational. The EPA reported that the average price of water has increased faster than the consumer price index over the past 10 years. One avenue of offsetting this expense is through more energy-efficient practices. A tankless water heater only uses energy as it’s needed, as opposed to a tank which warms the water regularly over time. By switching to a model that curbs the use of resources, buildings will see a decrease in energy costs associated with water usage. The green building bandwagon has already left town, as the U.S. Green Builders Association reports that 40 to 48 percent of all new commercial building projects will be environmentally driven. LEED certification isn’t just a means of reducing carbon emissions – according to the source, these buildings have 20 percent lower energy costs than their non-environmental counterparts. Tankless water heaters offer facility managers the unique ability to keep operational efficiency up and cut utility costs with just one installation. If this is what your commercial building needs, then it may be time to make a switch.