Tankless heaters are gaining popularity in the world today and for good reasons. Initially, most homes had traditional water heaters. However, with the ever-rising electricity and natural gas costs, most people are thinking otherwise. There’s a need to go tankless if you desire to save up an extra buck.
What’s the difference between the traditional water heaters and the tankless heaters? It’s great you asked. The former holds heated water in a storage tank and keeps it hot until it is used. On the other hand, the tankless model heats the water on demand.
On average the traditional water heaters use a lot of energy to preheat water and keep it hot. Switching to a tankless water heater, it’s estimated that 21- 43% of water heating energy is saved in a year.
Are you thinking of crossing over to a tankless model? Then let us take you through the pros and cons associated with these types to help you make a more informed decision.
Pros
Energy savings
This is amongst the major reasons why most people opt for tankless water heaters. Can you imagine the amount of power used to preheat a 50-gallon tank of water? And on top of that, keep the water hot and ready for use at any time? You’re right, pretty much.
Now, think about how much energy you save if this unit heats only the amount of water you need each time. You got it right again, incredible amount! A bonus point is that you’ll never run out of hot water for a bath or laundry. This is quite the opposite of the traditional water heater. Here, once the water in the tank runs out, you’ll have to substitute it with cold water if you’re not patient enough to wait for the unit to fill and heat 50 gallons of water again.
Long service
With proper maintenance, a traditional water heater may last between 10- 13 years which is quite good. On the other hand, a tankless water heater lasts close to two decades which is even better. Figuratively, your kids grow up and go to college while still using the tankless water heater!
Even better, compared to the traditional models, tankless units rarely run into problems. This again increases your savings which you would spend on other key projects.
Saves space
Space is of great concern in any home whether you live in the countryside or you’ve rented a downtown apartment. We all want our houses to have a homey feel. Trust me; a clustered basement does not give you that.
Tankless water heater occupies less space as compared to a 40- 50-gallon traditional water heater. You can mount the tankless heater on a wall and function even better without anyone. In fact, another advantage is that you can install the tankless water heater on the outside giving you enough indoor space.
Provides hot water on demand
Ever went to take a shower and found out that the water is cold? Now, that will be a thing of the past with a tankless water heater. This is because it gives hot water on demand. And it never disappoints. The tankless water heater provides 2- 3 gallons of hot water per minute. That’s just enough water to fill your bath and do laundry simultaneously.
Do not leak
These tankless water heaters rarely leak since they do not hold or store water. Needless to say, you’re welcoming a new era with no more night calls in a frantic hunt for a plumber. This is a good way of saying bye to all the risks associated with a flooded house.
Cons
Unfortunately, tankless water heaters don’t win in all fights. They have their ugly side too that you need to weigh before settling for one.
They are pricey
Everybody wants to save up a dollar or two for a rainy day. As such, anything that is far outstretched on your budget is probably not a good idea. The initial cost of getting a tankless water heater is very high as compared to a tanked type.
The price of bigger tankless water is roughly almost twice the price of a 50-gallon tank not to mention the installation fee of the desired model. All added up can roll to a few thousand dollars which is pretty much for anyone on a budget.
Additional renovation cost
Most homes are not built with a tankless water heater in mind. Homeowners who firmly believe in electric utilities only may be forced to upgrade their systems from scratch. Now, relaying the entire system can be pretty expensive. Changing from a traditional water heater also involves additional costs in uninstalling the tank and its already established system.
Limited output
As stated before, tankless units heat water on demand. Therefore, their output isn’t enough for multitasking since they give a few gallons of hot water per minute. This means that one has to have slow release fixtures to have enough hot water to serve a large family. Moreover, power blackouts mean no hot water.
Conclusion
So, are tankless water heaters superior to their traditional counterparts? Well, that’s for you to decide. In my opinion, either can do depending on your financial status and the need for hot water in your home. The traditional style units boast a higher supply enough for multitasking. However, they consume much space and also take much time and energy to heat the water to the desired level.
On the other side of the spectrum, tankless heaters’ pros outdo the cons by a wider margin. Consider the amount of space you’re going to save. Even better, the amount of money you’re saving on energy is quite irresistible. Your home also appears more technologically advanced and informed.