How to Get Hot Water Faster at the Kitchen Sink Without Running the Faucet for Minutes

You turn on the kitchen faucet and select hot water.
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But instead of hot water, you get cold water.
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Then lukewarm water.
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Finally, after waiting, the water becomes hot enough to use.
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If this happens every day, you may wonder why hot water takes so long to reach your kitchen sink and whether there is a better solution than simply letting the faucet run.
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In many homes, the water heater itself isn't necessarily the problem.
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The issue may be the distance between the kitchen sink and the home's primary water heater.
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The farther hot water has to travel through the plumbing, the longer you may wait for it to reach the faucet.
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One potential solution is point of use water heating.
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By placing a compact water heater closer to the kitchen sink, homeowners can reduce the distance hot water needs to travel and potentially reduce both waiting time and unnecessary water waste.
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Stiebel Eltron offers both mini tank and electric tankless point of use water heaters designed for applications where hot water is needed closer to the fixture.
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Here's how these systems work and how to determine which approach may be right for your kitchen.
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Why Does Hot Water Take So Long to Reach My Kitchen Sink?
The answer often comes down to plumbing distance.
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Your home's primary water heater may be located in a garage, basement, utility room, mechanical closet, or another part of the property.
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Pipes carry heated water from that location to your kitchen.
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When you finish using hot water, some water remains inside those pipes.
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Over time, it cools.
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The next time you turn on the hot water faucet, that cooled water must leave the plumbing before newly heated water reaches the kitchen.
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If the kitchen is located close to the water heater, the delay may be minimal.
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If it is located on the opposite side of the house, the wait can become much more noticeable.
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Why Running the Faucet Longer Isn't Really a Solution
Many homeowners simply accept the delay.
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Turn on the faucet.
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Wait.
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Test the water.
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Wait a little longer.
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Then start washing dishes, cleaning, or preparing food.
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The problem is that water is flowing during the entire wait.
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Multiply that routine by several uses per day and then by every day of the year.
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What seems like a small inconvenience can become a recurring source of unnecessary water use.
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Instead of asking how to tolerate the wait, it may be more useful to ask why heated water has to travel so far in the first place.
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What Is Point of Use Water Heating?
Point of use water heating moves the source of hot water closer to the fixture.
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Rather than depending exclusively on a central water heater located elsewhere in the home, a smaller water heater can be installed near the kitchen sink.
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The objective is simple.
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Reduce the distance between where water is heated and where it is used.
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Point of use water heating can be accomplished in several ways, including compact electric tankless water heaters and mini tank water heaters.
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Stiebel Eltron offers both approaches.
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What Is an Under Sink Water Heater?
An under sink water heater is a compact water heating system installed close to a sink or similar fixture.
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Depending on the product and plumbing arrangement, the unit may be located inside or near the sink cabinet.
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Because the water heater is much closer to the faucet, hot water does not have to travel through the same long plumbing run from a distant central heater.
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For kitchens where waiting for hot water has become a daily frustration, this can be an effective way to address the problem at its source.
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Option 1: A Mini Tank Water Heater
A mini tank water heater stores a relatively small quantity of heated water near the fixture.
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Think of it as a compact version of a traditional storage water heater.
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Instead of keeping a large tank of hot water elsewhere in the house, the mini tank keeps a smaller amount close to the kitchen sink.
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When you request hot water, that heated water is already nearby.
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Stiebel Eltron's SHC mini tank water heaters are designed for point of use applications where having a compact supply of heated water near the fixture makes sense.
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How Does a Mini Tank Help Hot Water Arrive Faster?
Imagine your primary water heater is a significant distance from the kitchen.
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Without a point of use system, you must wait for hot water to travel through that entire length of pipe.
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With a mini tank installed close to the kitchen sink, heated water is already located near the faucet.
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That dramatically shortens the distance the initial hot water needs to travel.
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For households primarily concerned with the waiting period at one remote sink, this can provide a straightforward solution.
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Option 2: An Electric Tankless Point of Use Water Heater
A point of use electric tankless water heater solves the problem differently.
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Instead of storing heated water, it heats water when you need it.
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When water begins flowing through the heater, electric heating elements raise its temperature.
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When you stop using hot water, the heating process stops.
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There is no storage tank containing a fixed quantity of heated water.
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Stiebel Eltron's DHC and DHX product families provide compact electric tankless water heating for point of use applications.
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Mini Tank vs Tankless for a Kitchen Sink
Both technologies can bring water heating closer to the kitchen, but they have different strengths.
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A mini tank stores hot water in advance.
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A tankless heater produces hot water on demand.
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A mini tank has a limited quantity of stored heated water.
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Once that supply is depleted, additional water needs to be heated.
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A tankless system does not have a stored volume to exhaust, but it must have sufficient heating capacity to handle the required flow and temperature rise.
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The better choice depends on how your kitchen uses hot water.
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How Much Hot Water Does Your Kitchen Actually Need?
Before choosing a point of use water heater, consider your daily routine.
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Do you primarily need short bursts of hot water?
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Do you frequently fill large pots with hot water?
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Do you wash dishes by hand for extended periods?
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Does the dishwasher rely on the same hot water supply?
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How often is the kitchen sink used throughout the day?
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These questions help determine whether a small stored supply or continuous on demand heating is more appropriate.
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Why Flow Rate Matters for a Tankless Kitchen Water Heater
Electric tankless performance depends heavily on flow rate.
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Flow rate describes how much water passes through the heater and is usually measured in gallons per minute, or GPM.
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The more water flowing through the system, the more heating power is required to raise its temperature.
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A bathroom handwashing sink may have relatively modest flow requirements.
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A kitchen faucet may create greater demand.
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This is why a point of use tankless water heater should be sized for the actual fixture it will serve.
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Simply choosing the smallest available unit because it fits under the sink may not provide the desired performance.
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Incoming Water Temperature Matters Too
Flow rate is only half of the tankless sizing equation.
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Incoming water temperature also matters.
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Suppose you want 110°F water at your kitchen faucet.
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If the incoming water is 70°F, the heater needs to create a 40°F temperature rise.
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If incoming water is 45°F, the required temperature rise becomes 65°F.
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The second scenario requires considerably more heating power at the same flow rate.
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That is why the same point of use tankless water heater can provide different performance depending on climate and incoming water conditions.
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What Is Temperature Rise?
Temperature rise is simply the difference between incoming water temperature and desired outlet temperature.
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The formula is straightforward.
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Desired outlet temperature minus incoming water temperature equals required temperature rise.
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Understanding this number can help homeowners and professionals identify which electric tankless model is appropriate for a particular kitchen application.
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It is much more useful than selecting a water heater based only on physical dimensions or voltage.
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Can an Under Sink Water Heater Reduce Water Waste?
Potentially, yes.
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When hot water takes a long time to arrive, the water already sitting in the plumbing needs to leave first.
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Most homeowners simply let it run down the drain.
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A point of use water heater moves the heat source closer to the fixture.
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Reducing that distance can reduce the amount of water that must flow before heated water reaches the faucet.
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For a kitchen used many times throughout the day, those small reductions can add up.
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Is a Point of Use Water Heater the Same as a Hot Water Dispenser?
No.
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This is an important distinction when searching online for ways to get instant hot water at a kitchen sink.
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A point of use water heater is designed to provide heated water to a plumbing fixture.
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A boiling or near boiling water dispenser is a different type of appliance commonly used for beverages or food preparation.
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If your goal is normal hot water for washing, cleaning, and everyday kitchen use, you are generally looking for a point of use water heating solution rather than simply a beverage water dispenser.
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What Is the Stiebel Eltron SHC?
The Stiebel Eltron SHC family provides compact electric mini tank water heating.
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These systems store heated water near the point of use rather than requiring the user to wait for hot water to travel from a distant central heater.
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For a kitchen where the primary issue is a long wait for hot water, an SHC mini tank may provide a practical localized solution.
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The appropriate model depends on the amount of stored hot water required and installation conditions.
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What Is the Stiebel Eltron DHC?
Stiebel Eltron's DHC family provides compact electric tankless water heating for point of use applications.
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Instead of maintaining stored hot water, the system heats water as flow occurs.
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Different models provide different heating capacities, allowing the equipment to be matched to the application's required flow and temperature rise.
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For homeowners who prefer an on demand approach, DHC can provide an alternative to storing hot water under the sink.
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What Is the Stiebel Eltron DHX?
The Stiebel Eltron DHX family provides electronically controlled electric tankless water heating for point of use and appropriate multi point applications.
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Its compact design allows water heating to be placed closer to where hot water is required.
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As with any tankless water heater, the correct model should be selected according to incoming water temperature, flow requirements, desired outlet temperature, and electrical capacity.
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What If the Kitchen Isn't the Only Fixture With This Problem?
Sometimes a long wait for hot water isn't limited to the kitchen.
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Perhaps a nearby guest bathroom has the same problem.
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Or an entire section of the home is located far from the central water heater.
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In that case, it may be worth evaluating whether a point of use system can serve the required fixtures or whether a broader change to the home's water heating design would make more sense.
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Stiebel Eltron offers solutions ranging from compact point of use water heaters to Tempra whole house electric tankless systems.
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The right approach depends on the home's plumbing layout and hot water requirements.
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What About a Hot Water Recirculation System?
A recirculation system is another approach homeowners may encounter when researching how to get hot water faster.
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Instead of heating water at the fixture, a recirculation system is designed to keep hot water moving through or available within the plumbing system so it can reach fixtures more quickly.
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Whether recirculation or point of use water heating makes more sense depends on the home's plumbing configuration, installation complexity, energy considerations, number of affected fixtures, and homeowner priorities.
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If the problem is limited to one remote kitchen sink, localized water heating may offer a more targeted approach.
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Can You Install a Water Heater Inside a Kitchen Cabinet?
Compact point of use water heaters are designed for installation close to the fixtures they serve, but exact installation requirements vary by model.
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Homeowners should not assume that any heater can simply be placed inside any cabinet.
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Required clearances, plumbing connections, electrical connections, access for service, and manufacturer instructions must all be considered.
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Always review the requirements of the specific unit before deciding on an installation location.
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Does an Under Sink Water Heater Need a Dedicated Circuit?
That depends on the specific model.
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Different mini tank and electric tankless water heaters have different electrical requirements.
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Tankless units can require significant electrical power because they need to heat flowing water immediately.
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Before selecting a product, confirm the available voltage, amperage, circuit configuration, and other electrical requirements.
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A qualified electrician can determine whether the existing electrical system is appropriate for the selected heater.
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Is a Tankless Water Heater Better Because It Never Runs Out?
Tankless systems do not have a stored quantity of hot water to deplete.
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That can be an important advantage.
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However, they still have a maximum heating capacity.
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If water flows faster than the unit can heat it to the desired temperature, performance can be affected.
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A properly sized tankless heater can provide continuous hot water within its designed flow and temperature parameters.
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So the real advantage isn't unlimited capacity.
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It is continuous on demand heating without relying on a stored volume of hot water.
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When a Mini Tank May Be the Better Choice
A mini tank may make sense when:
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The main problem is waiting for hot water at one remote sink.
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You typically use relatively small quantities of hot water at a time.
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You want heated water already stored near the fixture.
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The application's electrical requirements favor a small storage solution.
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You have adequate space for the mini tank.
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For these types of applications, Stiebel Eltron SHC mini tank water heaters provide a compact approach to localized hot water.
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When Tankless May Be the Better Choice
A point of use electric tankless system may make sense when:
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You prefer to heat water only when demand occurs.
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You don't want to rely on a finite stored quantity of hot water.
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The available electrical service supports the required heater.
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The unit can provide the necessary flow and temperature rise.
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Compact installation is important.
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Stiebel Eltron DHC and DHX systems provide options for point of use electric tankless applications.
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Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Solution
Before installing a point of use water heater at your kitchen sink, answer these questions.
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How long does hot water currently take to arrive?
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How frequently do you use hot water at the kitchen sink?
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How much hot water do you typically use at one time?
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What is the faucet's flow rate?
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What is the incoming water temperature?
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What outlet temperature do you want?
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What electrical service is available near the kitchen?
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How much cabinet or nearby installation space is available?
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Would a mini tank or tankless system better match your usage?
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Is the kitchen the only fixture experiencing a long hot water delay?
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These answers can help determine which technology is the better fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my kitchen sink take so long to get hot water?
A common reason is the distance between the kitchen and the home's primary water heater. Cooled water sitting inside the plumbing must leave before newly heated water reaches the faucet.
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How can I get hot water faster at my kitchen sink?
One option is installing a point of use water heater closer to the kitchen sink. Mini tank and electric tankless systems can both provide localized hot water depending on the application.
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Can I install a small water heater under my kitchen sink?
Compact point of use water heaters can be installed close to sinks when the product, available space, plumbing, electrical supply, and installation requirements allow it.
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Is a mini tank or tankless heater better for a kitchen sink?
Neither is universally better. A mini tank keeps a limited amount of heated water ready, while a tankless system heats water on demand. Your usage pattern, electrical capacity, flow requirements, and available space should determine the choice.
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Does an under sink water heater save water?
By reducing the distance hot water needs to travel, a point of use system can reduce the amount of water that runs down the drain while you wait for hot water to arrive.
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Does Stiebel Eltron make under sink water heaters?
Stiebel Eltron offers several point of use solutions, including SHC mini tank water heaters and DHC and DHX electric tankless water heaters.
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Final Thoughts
If you're standing at the kitchen sink waiting for hot water several times every day, the problem may not be that your water heater isn't working.
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It may simply be too far away.
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Traditional centralized water heating requires heated water to travel through the home's plumbing before reaching a distant fixture.
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Point of use water heating changes that equation by bringing the heat source closer to where the water is actually needed.
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For some kitchens, a Stiebel Eltron SHC mini tank can keep a compact supply of hot water ready near the sink.
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For others, a DHC or DHX electric tankless water heater can provide an on demand solution without relying on stored hot water.
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The best choice depends on how you use your kitchen, available electrical service, flow rate, incoming water temperature, installation space, and the amount of hot water required.
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Instead of wasting water while waiting for comfort to arrive from the other side of the house, consider whether it makes more sense to bring efficient water heating closer to you.
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With more than a century of German engineering experience, Stiebel Eltron provides point of use water heating solutions designed to make an essential home system more efficient, more compact, and better suited to the way modern homes actually work.