August 25th, 2022 by Sarah Miles

Access to hot water is a must for both home and business settings and there are a number of ways you can facilitate this. In this post, we take a look at under-sink water heaters and their benefits in terms of function, cost, convenience, and efficiency.

What is an under-sink water heater?

While the name is fairly self-explanatory, it may not be something that many people are familiar with. An under-sink water heater attaches to the mains taps underneath your sink, out of sight. They come in different sizes according to capacity, but they are fairly compact and can be accommodated under most sinks. They work in one of two ways: some heat water instantly as you run it and some hold hot water in their tank.

Elson 15 Litres Unvented Under Sink Water Heater, EUV15

Price: £127.94

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What are the benefits?

One of the greatest benefits of these heaters is the way they minimise waste, both in terms of energy required to heat water and water itself. With a traditional boiler system, the boiler may be quite a distance from the sink and therefore has to heat the water and pass it through the pipes. This means you often have to run the water for a minute or two waiting for it to get hot which is inconvenient and you could potentially waste quite a high volume of water unless you are diligent in capturing it as you wait. You will also naturally lose some heat energy as it travels through the pipes to the sink. Because under-sink water heaters sit directly next to the taps, it feeds the taps with hot water instantly. These heaters are relatively inexpensive to buy (they start at less than £120) and low cost to run so if you are trying to keep tight control on energy bills, they’re ideal.

Where are they most suited to?

These units are designed for low-use sinks that could be used for washing up dishes or washing hands (not for baths or showers). They are also great for locations where it may not be practical to be connected to the central heating system. As long as you have some kind of water system, you can use an under-sink heater.

They are perfectly suited, therefore, for an en suite or downstairs bathrooms, outbuildings, workshops, and caravans. They are also good for hair and beauty salons, catering vans, and low-use washrooms.

Instant or non-instant hot water?

When choosing the right model for you, consider your requirement for hot water. If you need hot water infrequently, a non-instant one will be fine as it has time to refill and heat once empty in between uses. If you need hot water quickly, on demand more often, such as in a café or hair salon, we recommend an instant one.

Perfect 55 Instant Undersink Instant Water Heater, 5.5KW

Price: £134.99

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