Hospitals have unique power demands compared to similarly-sized buildings in other industries. Power must flow constantly through a hospital to run vital medical equipment and keep day-to-day logistics to a minimum. As a result, the total energy costs for a hospital are high. Business Energy Advisor reports that American hospitals us an average of 27.5 kilowatt-hours annually, along with 100 cubic feet of natural gas per square foot. Likewise, large hospitals use over 130 billion gallons of water each year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Association. Thankfully, hospitals can take advantage of high-performance appliances like tankless water heaters to save resources and reduce costs.

Point-of-use installation
Tankless water heaters are up to 90 percent smaller than traditional storage tank heaters. This space efficiency is great for hospitals in need of water heaters that can be installed near point-of-use locations. Likewise, compact tankless water heaters could easily be integrated into an existing heating system as a temperature booster. Flexible installation ensures that hospitals can localize water heating and reduce energy waste caused by hot water being forced through a long system of pipes. Point-of-use installation can also help to reduce water waste by reducing scenarios where staff or patients run faucets waiting for hot water delivery. Water heating, along with lighting and heat, make up 72 percent of total energy use. Even small gains in the efficiency of the hot water system has the potential to pay dividends for a hospital.

Low-maintenance operation
Tankless water heaters can also benefit hospitals by performing more reliably than storage tank heaters. Standard heaters prepare and store hot water in a large reservoir, and eventually the presence of water begins to corrode the interior of the tank. Performance suffers as buildup increases, and deteriorating reservoir walls are also more likely to crack.

Corrosive buildup cuts into the life cycle of a standard water heater, so most owners have the appliance flushed by a professional as buildup begins to collect inside the tank. Tankless water heaters are far less susceptible to this maintenance issue, and high-end models feature self-flushing features. Routine repair is especially important in hospital environments, where a small leak could quickly turn to water damage and mold risks. Hospital administrators can circumvent these potential health risks by investing in a tankless solution.

Precise heating
Many patients, especially those with sensitive or aging skin, are especially vulnerable to burns and scalding from hot water. Hospitals can reduce the risks of inconsistent heating by choosing a tankless water heater with built-in temperature controls. These models offer the best of both worlds, combining efficient performance with instant, consistent hot water. Top-tier models can control heat within a single degree of accuracy. Administrators should compare the cost of treatment error and further injury to a patient against the cost of installation when considering investment in tankless water heaters.

Seamless compliance
Established tankless water heater manufacturers often design water heaters to meet specific health and safety compliance standards. Heaters intended to supply a washing station, for example, are required to meet ANSI Z358.1 for tepid water safely equipment. Administrator can eliminate the guesswork and research required to identify the right water heating system by simply investing in a model that is already designed to fit the needs of the hospital.