Which type of water heater only supplies water to the plumbing fixture it is attached to?

A point-of-use water heater is designed to serve a specific plumbing fixture directly. It is typically installed very close to the point where hot water is needed, such as under a sink or in a bathroom. This kind of system heats water on demand, which means that it provides hot water only when required at that particular location, eliminating the need for long plumbing runs that can waste water and energy while waiting for hot water to arrive.

In contrast, central water heaters or traditional water heaters serve multiple fixtures throughout the home, heating a large volume of water that is then distributed via plumbing lines to various outlets. Tankless water heaters, while they also provide on-demand hot water, can serve multiple fixtures at once depending on their capacity. Therefore, the specificity of point-of-use water heaters in supplying hot water to a single fixture distinguishes them from other types, making them the correct choice for this question.