The real advantage of a point-of-use water heater is that it eliminates the distance between a conventional water heater and a fixture. Instead of running a hot water pipe from the water heater to a remote sink, for example, you can connect a point-of-use water heater to a cold water pipe right under the sink. Thanks to this proximity, hot water arrives at the tap almost immediately when you turn on the water.
A point-of-use water heater saves energy and water because you don’t have to let the hot water run while you wait for it to warm up; this alone can save hundreds of gallons during a month. And expensively heated water doesn’t sit and cool in the pipes between the water heater and the fixture.
Most point-of-use water heaters are very compact and electric. Both 120-volt and 240-volt models are sold. Before buying one, be sure a grounded electrical outlet is conveniently available to serve it.
