A condensing tankless water heater is simply a tankless model that doesn t release the condensation caused from heating the gas out through the exhaust.
Condensing tankless water heater vs non condensing.
These materials are usually very expensive.
Non condensing tankless water heaters also require more specific venting materials as the temperature may reach 300 f.
The word condense refers to the process of changing matters from gas or vapor into a liquid state.
If you have googled tankless gas water heater options online then you have surely come across the condensing tank water heater vs.
With the lower exhaust temperatures it is possible to use inexpensive pvc venting materials.
So what causes the hype.
Condensing vs non condensing tankless water heater.
See in a traditional type of model the water is heated with gas and the steam that is caused by the combustion gets vented outside where it dissipates into the air.
These gases are around 300 degress and need special materials for the venting to withstand the temperatures and not corrode.
Non condensing tank water heater.
They can achieve efficiencies of up to 98 percent.
In the condensation process the water resulting is acidic usally bwtween ph 3 to ph 5 and must be.
This type of tankless water heater which heats the water by the gas burner and since the gasses are vented right away.
Let s dissect the meaning of the word condense first.
Now that we ve had a look at these two types and their individual features it s time to make a comparison in the condensing vs non condensing tankless water heater debate.
They will cool outside the unit.
It loses about 20 of the heat that helps the water become hotter.
Condensing tankless water heaters are inherently more efficient as the capture more of the heating energy and have much lower exhaust temperatures.
Non condensing water heaters are simpler to maintain and cheaper to buy while the condensing ones are cheaper to operate and more environment friendly.