HOW DO ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS WORK?
There are two basic types of electric water heaters; tankless and storage. Tankless water heaters do not store hot water at all, so they work best in homes where people want to change the temperature of their tap water often or in places where there is no access to a standard gas line. Storage tank units continually add hot water to their tanks as needed and typically provide a larger flow rate than tankless models.
In either type, when it’s time for you to take a shower or turn on your dishwasher, electricity flows through copper wires that connect the appliance to the heating element inside the unit. The electricity makes an electrical current surge through metal coils that generate an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field generates heat as it alternates. The alternating current (AC) flows through the heating element and turns it into a hot surface that heats the surrounding water.
Electric heaters, whether tankless or storage units, are generally more energy-efficient than other types because they do not have to maintain a pilot light or full burner. They also deliver hot water faster than their gas counterparts because there is no wait for the pilot light to ignite.