Four Ways to Get Hot Water Faster (Without Installing a Tankless Water Heater)

Despite all the technological advances that have made our lives so comfortable and convenient, from on-demand movies to smart devices controlled by a pocket laptop, there are still some primal situations we have to endure. For example, that seemingly endless time spent shivering in the shower while waiting for the water to heat up. Or that agonizing moment when you’re about to wash your hands and are splashed with water that seems to come straight from the Arctic.

Waiting for hot water is a long-standing problem caused by simple laws of physics: your water heater is far from the faucet or shower head, and it takes time to flush the pipes with cold water. But there are ways to speed up the hot water supply. The simplest is to install a tankless water heater, but this can cost thousands of dollars and requires a lot of space, which your home may not have. If you want to speed up the hot water supply without spending that much money, you have several more affordable options.

Install a circulation pump.

One reason why hot water is delayed is timing: when you turn off a faucet, the hot water in the pipes begins to cool. The next time you turn on the faucet, this cooled water must be forced out of the hot water pipes before the hot water can flow.

To solve this problem, you can install a circulation pump, which typically costs less than $1,000 . These pumps are installed on your existing water heater and continuously circulate water through the pipes, ensuring it never stagnates or cools down. Because the pump is installed on the water heater, it also speeds up the delivery of hot water to your appliances, including washing machines and dishwashers, which can improve their efficiency.

Instantaneous water heaters for use directly at the consumer

While installing a whole-house tankless water heater can be a large and expensive project, a so-called “tankless water heater” can be a simpler and more affordable solution. These water heaters are small enough to install under a sink and are designed to deliver hot water on demand right there. The heaters themselves typically cost several hundred dollars, and installation typically costs less than $1,000 . Due to their small size, installing one yourself is quite possible if you’re familiar with plumbing and electrical work, but they may require careful calibration, so it’s probably best to consult a professional plumber.

Insulate

Since one of the problems with slow water heating is heat loss due to stagnant water in the pipes, the situation can sometimes be improved simply by properly insulating the hot water pipes. This is a completely do-it-yourself project if you can locate and access your hot water pipes, and it’s not very expensive if you hire a professional, averaging just $350 . Simply wrap the pipes with insulating sleeves and then tape everything together to ensure a watertight seal. This will help keep the water hot while it’s standing, so the next time you turn on the faucet, you’ll get the hot water you expect.

Adjust the limiters

For hot water to reach your faucet or showerhead, cold water must first drain from the pipes, so one way to speed up this process is to remove installed flow regulators/restrictors . These simple devices do exactly what their name suggests: they restrict the flow of water, saving energy and water and lowering your utility bills. But because they restrict the flow, it also means it may take longer for cold water to drain and hot water to arrive, so removing or adjusting these devices can reduce the time it takes for hot water to reach you.

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