Tankless water heater benefits extend beyond the space you save by not having an enormous tank stuffed away in a closet or down in the basement. That’s definitely an advantage — perhaps the most obvious. But there are many other benefits of a tankless water heater. We thought you’d like to learn about a few of them.
As we all know, your water heater plays a big role in the overall comfort of your home. If you’re considering making the switch from a tank storage water heater to a tankless water heater, you’ll be making a great upgrade for your home. With advances in technology, tankless water heaters are becoming more reliable and popular.
Tankless Water Heater Benefits
Tankless model hot water heaters have several primary benefits, including a near limitless amount of hot water. Instead of keeping an entire tank of water hot, a tankless water heater heats on demand. Water is heated as it goes through the unit so there’s no need to store water and keep it heated.
Although most modern appliances are built with energy efficiency in mind, they can still go through a lot of hot water. Ever try to take a shower after running a load of dishes or laundry? Unless you like icy showers, it’s not a very pleasant experience. Other benefits include:
- THEY’LL HELP REDUCE YOUR UTILITY BILLS. Tankless water heaters use less energy than traditional tank water heaters. That translates to a reduction in your energy bills. In fact, the average household can save hundreds of dollars each year by making this switch to tankless units. The energy efficiency and energy savings of even Energy Star appliances often pale in comparison to electric tankless water heaters.
- THEY’LL LAST LONGER THAN TRADITIONAL WATER HEATERS. The life expectancy of the average tank water heater will last 10 years to 12 years. Tankless systems, on the other hand, can last five years to 10 longer. With the proper maintenance, your new tankless system could last up to 20 years or more!
- THEY SAVE SPACE. As we alluded to in the first paragraph, traditional water heater tanks are big and bulky. Tankless water heaters are significantly smaller while providing all the benefits of a tank.
Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
As with all makes and models, there are pros and cons to every appliance. Reach out if you have any questions about installing a tankless water heater, traditional storage water heaters, electric models, heating elements, natural gas appliances, gas burners, and energy costs. Or if you’ve just run out of hot water and have to shower in cold water, contact Meticulous Plumbing right away.
Pros: Space, Cost, and Quantity
These units are a triple threat: they take up less space, cost less to run, and supply an unlimited amount of heated water. The flow rate isn’t affected and is cheaper to operate in the long term (which helps mitigate initial installation costs).
- Space – A tankless water heater is more compact than a standard unit because it doesn’t store water. A traditional heater with a capacity of 40 to 60 gallons is about 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide. A tankless unit is about 20 inches wide, 28 inches tall, and 10 inches deep.
- Cost to operate – Though more expensive up front, they cost less to operate. You don’t have to spend money to keep water heated while it’s in the tank. Instead, they provide almost instant hot water on demand. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a gas tankless heater costs $108 less to operate over a year than storage tank water heaters.
- Quantity – If you want water for just one bathroom, you can buy a smaller unit. If you want one that provides water for an entire home, it needs to be larger. A plumbing professional can help you determine what your needs are and recommend the right size.
Cons: More Expensive Upfront, Sizing Correctly, Energy Source
Tankless units aren’t suitable in all situations. Here is a look at three reasons why you might not want a tankless model.
- Upfront costs – A new tankless unit starts at about $1,000. For a gas-powered unit that provides water for an entire home, the cost is about $3,000. It also requires special installation, so you need to include that in the overall price.
- Sizing and quantity – If you don’t get the right size unit, you won’t have the hot water you need. Tankless heaters have a limit and provide a specific number of gallons at a time. You can’t plan to run the dishwasher and clothes washer while several people are taking showers. That’s why it is essential that you size the unit properly.
- Proper energy source – Gas is the best energy source for a tankless unit. Many homes that are run solely on electricity may not have sufficient power to operate a tankless heater. And upgrading the electrical system is costly, about $5,000 or more.
If you have gas you are in better shape, but the instant energy requirement of tankless units is also a heavy burden on the system. Standard units need 30,000 to 50,000 BTU to heat the water. A tankless unit needs 150,000 to 200,000 BTU to heat water on demand–many systems simply aren’t prepared for that.
Learn about Tankless Water Heater Benefits From Professionals
Meticulous Plumbing can guide you through the decision-making process for your next water heater. We are experts with both tankless water heaters as well as standard units. Contact us today for help with water heater installation.
