Insta-Hot Water Heaters

Point of use water heaters, also known as Insta-Hots, are another great cost effective appliance for the kitchen. They fit neatly under the kitchen sink or bathroom lavatory and produce instant hot water at the press of a button.  Great for a spot of tea, cup of coffee, soup mixes, and cooking.

Most point of use water heaters typically fit under a sink or lavatory and provide instant hot water for making beverages quickly.  Other uses, including larger models, are used to provide entire bathrooms with their own source of hot water.  Use here in the United States is limited, but in other countries around the world, one small point-of-use water heater is installed in each wet room of the house in lieu of a whole house tank water heater, including the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry rooms.

Point of use water heaters in the US are usually electric, though some manufacturers do make gas models and their capacity ranges from half gallon up to 6 gallons.  Like traditional tank water heaters, point of use water heaters carry a 6-12 year warranty and usually last at least that long.

In terms of conservation and efficiency, smaller point of use water heaters are much more efficient than larger point of use heaters and traditional tank water heaters.  These small units can save consumers 33-50% on their cost of heating.  Because they are installed right at the point of use, no water or energy is wasted on getting hot water from a distant tank to the fixture where it is needed, reducing one's carbon foot print.

Installation cost is far lower than traditional,  high-efficiency, tankless or hybrid water heaters, but the lower cost is offset by the limited amount of hot water that can be produced a any one time by any one unit.  Parent of small children may also want to be careful when choosing a insta-hot water heater.  Because they produce very hot water, very quickly, there is an increased risk of scalding and should be used with care.