In an informal survey, our employees revealed that they have significantly lower patience waiting for hot water at their kitchen sink than their shower. This is one of the reasons that several people choose to install a tiny water heater connected to their kitchen sink (commonly referred to as under sink water heaters). Commercial properties may attach small water heaters near their sinks for this reason too. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about under sink water heaters.
An under sink water heater is a device that heats water for use at a single delivery point: usually a sink in a residential property’s kitchen or one in a commercial property.
An under sink water heater is a device that heats water for use at a single delivery point: usually a sink in a residential property’s kitchen or one in a commercial property. An under sink water heater works exactly like a regular water heater, with the only difference being the fact that an under sink water heater is designed to provide a lower output of hot water. An under sink water heater is also called a point of use water heater.
An under sink hot water heater works exactly like a standard water heater. An inlet connection brings cold water in. Once water is heated, it is delivered through an outlet pipe to the sink/point of use. The source of energy and mode of operation depends on the type of under sink water heater.
Under sink water heaters come in a variety of types, just like standard water heaters. These types are dependent on the mode of operation and the energy source used.
One of the main categories for under sink water heaters revolves around the energy source that they use to heat water. Here are the two main types of under sink water heaters based on their energy source:
Gas under sink water heaters make use of natural gas/propane to heat water at a point of use. Several homes in Japan use gas-powered under-the-sink water heaters.
Electric under sink water heaters use electric resistance elements to heat water under the sink. Most under sink water heaters in the United States are electric since gas-powered water heaters need to be vented. Venting can be challenging to implement in areas like the kitchen sink.
Another common category of under sink water heaters is their mode of operation. Like standard water heaters, under sink hot water heaters may store a certain amount of water or heat water on demand.
Tank-style under-sink water heaters work by storing a small amount of water and keeping it constantly hot.
A tankless under sink water heater works by heating water on-demand rather than storing a small amount and keeping it hot constantly.
The cost of an under sink water heater differs with various factors like the manufacturer and model of the unit, the customer’s location and others. In the United States, you can expect to pay no more than $500 for an under sink water heater. Given the relatively small amount, the type of under sink water heater does not affect its cost significantly.
Under sink water heaters may not be a necessity for most people/households. However, for some, it may make life much more convenient. Let’s look at some of the ways in which an under sink hot water heater might be useful and some things to consider against them.
There are two safety concerns that you should know about when it comes to under sink water heaters. Firstly, a gas-powered under sink water heater can be unsafe if not vented properly. Improper venting of water heaters can result in poisonous gases like carbon monoxide being released back into a property and the risk of a fire since some vented gases can be flammable. Read more about water heater venting here.
Secondly, the safety concern of contamination remains with under sink water heaters, like standard water heaters. Pathogens like Legionella (which causes the Legionnaire’s disease) can thrive in stagnant water. Tank-style water heaters (regardless of whether they are standard or under sink) store stagnant water as a part of their mode of operation, making them susceptible to Legionella.
Intellihot does manufacture and sell an under sink water heater called The Legionator. The Legionator is the world’s first point-of-use disinfection system. It disinfects water apart from heating it, unlike other under sink water heaters. The Legionator is an electric, tankless under sink water heater.
The Legionator comes in two form factors. The iL3.5 has a power rating of 3.5 kW and a single-phase supply voltage of 120 Vac. The iL6.0 has a power rating of 6 kW and a single-phase supply voltage of 208 Vac.
The Legionator heats water using infrared in a set of quartz tubes. It disinfects the water by injecting ozone into it. The device generates its own ozone automatically. Hence, it does not need a continuous supply of disinfectant or refills. The Legionator’s design allows it to disinfect the nooks and crannies of the point of use’s water fixtures like valve seats and aerators too. Ozone is a highly effective disinfectant with ozonated water being completely safe to drink. It helps the Legionator mitigate the risk of Legionella and other water-borne illnesses.
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