What is a Tankless Water Heater Battery Backup?
Tankless water heaters have become an indispensable household appliance that ensures you never have to worry about ice-cold showers. However, these tankless water heating systems do not work when the power outage goes out. That's where tankless water heater battery backups come into the picture.
Tankless water heaters typically draw between 2kW and 30kW, depending on the type, size, and model. If you live in an area that's prone to extended power outages, you may consider Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations. They are compact, lightweight, and can charge multiple devices simultaneously.
Why Do You Need a Tankless Water Heater Battery Backup?
A traditional tank-style water heater comes with a large insulated tank that stores hot water for later use, especially when there is a sudden outage in your area. However, that's not the case with a tankless water heater. They do not have tanks to store hot water — and hence won't work when the power is out. For this reason, it is essential to have a backup source ready. Here are some other benefits of tankless water heater battery backups.
- Battery backups can supply steady electricity to many appliances, including tankless water heaters.
- These portable charging solutions can even be an excellent choice for outdoor adventures.
- Many advanced power stations feature battery management systems to supply safe electricity to appliances.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Battery Backup Work?
Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations feature highly efficient LiFePO4 or NMC batteries and act as reliable battery backup for gas tankless water heaters. They work in tandem with the Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels to collect, convert, and charge appliances.
When the sun's rays fall on the monocrystalline silicon solar cells of the Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels, they convert the solar energy into DC electricity. Then, the pure sine wave inverter in the Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations converts the DC current into usable AC electricity. You can plug in the appliances and start charging them anytime.
How Many Watts Does A Tankless Water Heater Use?
Generally speaking, tankless water heaters draw anywhere between 2kW and 30kW of electricity, depending on the flow rate. When the wattage consumption is higher, the flow rate will be higher, and the quicker it will heat the water. A 2kW water heater working for 30 minutes per day will consume around 1kWh of electricity.
|
TANKLESS WATER HEATER WATTAGE |
DAILY POWER CONSUMPTION (30 MINUTES) |
MONTHLY POWER CONSUMPTION (15 HOURS) |
|
2 kW |
1 kW |
30 kWh |
|
3 kW |
1.5 kWh |
45 kWh |
|
5 kW |
2.5 kWh |
75 kWh |
|
10 kW |
5.0 kWh |
150 kWh |
|
15 kW |
7.5 kWh |
225 kWh |
|
18 kW |
9.0 kWh |
270 kWh |
|
24 kW |
12 kWh |
360 kWh |
Best 3 Tankless Water Heater Battery Backups
Since tankless water heaters consume a lot of electricity, you'll need to consider some larger battery backups that work great for you. Jackery is a reputable solar brand that offers a wide range of power stations, solar generators, and solar panels. The Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations with LiFePO4 and NMC batteries can supply sufficient electricity to most tankless water heaters. Here are the best battery backups for tankless water heaters.
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station
If you live in an area with untimely power outages and you can't do without hot water, then this Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station has covered your needs! It has a LiFePO4 battery of 1264Wh capacity and supports charging small tankless water heaters. You can expand the capacity from 1.2kWh to 5kWh with the help of an additional Jackery Battery Pack 1000 Plus. One advantage of the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station is that you can use it as a backup for other appliances.
Customer Review
"I purchased the Jackery 1000 Plus to help during the expected power outages this Winter. The biggest reason for this purchase is my great experience with the other Jackery Explorers that my family has been using for the past five years. Last year, we had some rotating blackouts, and I wanted to add another quick charging unit to my mix." — Tennessee Experimenter.
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station
If you're someone who wants a larger home battery backup, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station might be the right choice. It has a robust handle and double wheels to make the battery backup highly mobile and portable. It has a capacity of 2042.8Wh and can be easily extended up to 24kWh using an additional Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus. It can even be integrated with the home circuits to charge essential home appliances like refrigerators or tankless water heaters in the blink of an eye.
Customer Review
"I bought this specifically to plug in my freezer during a multi-day power outage. It appears to have enough power to run the freezer for two days, which will hold for another two days. Which means I should survive the too-frequent multi-day power outages for a few years. Until climate change worsens and the outages get even more frequent and longer." — Anita Dyer.
Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station
The Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station is one of the largest battery backups for gas tankless water heaters and other heavy-duty appliances. It comes with an NMC battery of 3024Wh capacity that can charge 99% of home or outdoor appliances. You can power larger tankless water heaters, drawing 1000-3000W of electricity. For example, if the tankless water heater consumes 3000W, this battery backup can supply power for 51 minutes.
Customer Review
"I live in a rural area where power outages are common and sometimes extended. My entire home office (laptop and two printers) is connected to a surge suppressor, which I am able to easily switch from the wall outlet to my Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station." — TMann Stuff.
How Long Does Jackery Battery Backup Run a Tankless Water Heater?
As mentioned, tankless water heaters draw somewhere between 2kW and 30kW of electricity. If you are using Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations to charge tankless water heaters, the running time will depend on how many watts the appliance consumes.
Let's say you are charging tankless water heaters drawing 2000W with the Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station. The running time can be calculated using the below formula:
Working Time = Battery Capacity * 0.85 / Tankless Water Heater Wattage = 3024Wh * 0.85 / 2000W = 1.2 hours.
Similarly, we will calculate the running time of different tankless water heater battery backups from Jackery.
|
Product |
Output Rated/Surge |
Capacity |
Weight/Size |
Appliances |
|
2000W (4000W Peak) |
1264Wh |
32 lbs / 14.5 kg
|
Small Tankless Water Heater (1000W): 1H Refrigerator (520W): 2H TV (60W): 17.9H Light (5W): 220 H Microwave (960W): 1.1H Electric Grill (900W): 1.1H |
|
|
3000W (6000W Peak) |
2042.8Wh |
61.5 lbs / 27.9 kg
|
Small Tankless Water Heater (1000W): 1.7H Midsize Tankless Water Heater (2000W): 52 min Portable Air Conditioner (1000W): 1.7H Microwave (900W): 1.9H Kettle (850W): 2H Electric Grill (950W): 1.8H |
|
|
3000W (6000W Peak) |
3024Wh |
63.93 lbs / 29 kg |
Small Tankless Water Heater (1000W): 2.5H Midsize Tankless Water Heater (2000W): 1.2H Large Tankless Water Heater (3000W): 51 min Refrigerator (520W): 4.9H Microwave (960W): 2.6H Electric Grill (900W): 2.8H |
How to Choose the Best Tankless Water Heater Battery Backup?
A battery backup for a tankless water heater provides an uninterrupted hot water supply during blackouts or power outages. It gives peace of mind, knowing that the hot water supply will not be disrupted. When selecting the best tankless water heater battery backup, you need to consider a few factors to ensure optimal performance.
Capacity
The capacity of the battery backup system is one of the critical factors that determine how long a tankless water heater can operate during power outages. You'll need to check the wattage and size of the tankless water heater to choose the battery backup that meets your needs. For example, the large Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station and Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station are great for charging most tankless water heaters.
Size
Another crucial factor to consider is how easily the power station can be moved from one place to another. Since water heaters require a lot of electricity, you'll need to opt for a large battery backup. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations have double wheels and robust handles that improve the portability of the power station.
Quiet
Solar generators are quiet because they do not include any moving parts. The battery backups with LiFePO4 or NMC batteries typically operate by emitting only 30 dB to 45 dB. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations emit only 30dB, which resembles a refrigerator's hum. Plus, they do not emit any toxic fumes, meaning they are safe for indoor use.
Input/Output Ports
When choosing the best battery backups for tankless water heaters, you'll need to consider the number of input and output ports. The higher the number of output ports, the more appliances you can charge with the battery backup. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations feature multiple input and output ports. These battery backups can be recharged via a wall outlet, car charger, and Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels.
Long Battery Life
The battery lifespan depends on the type of the battery and its quality. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations are built with LiFePO4 and NMC batteries to charge appliances. These battery backups have a long lifespan of up to 10 years, so you can enjoy years of free power.
Tankless Water Heater Battery Backup FAQs
Do tankless gas water heaters have a battery backup?
Tankless gas water heaters require some electricity to heat water, meaning they won't be working during power outages. You can add battery backups to power most tankless gas water heaters.
Do tankless water heaters work during power outages?
No, tankless water heaters do not work during power outages. They do not have traditional tanks to store hot water and might not work without a power supply. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations can charge most tankless water heaters, ensuring you never have to worry about blackouts.
Can you run a tankless water heater on a generator?
Yes, you can run any size tankless water heater on a generator, but you'll need to ensure that the available continuous output wattage is always higher than the water heater's electricity demand. For example, if you charge a tankless water heater drawing 2000W, you'll need a solar generator with around 2500-3000 Wh.
Conclusion
Tankless water heater battery backups can keep the water heater running if a power outage happens. The choice of the proper battery backup depends on your needs and performance criteria. A reliable battery backup like Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations has an extended lifespan and can charge many appliances, including tankless water heaters.
If you're looking for a compact and portable battery backup, then the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station is something you can consider. On the other hand, if you want a whole-home battery backup, you may choose the Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station.
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