Home Plumbing Questions: Should You Go with a Tankless Water Heater?

In the past, to have hot water in a home, you had to have traditional water heaters which typically came with bulky water tanks that stored hot water so it’s ready whenever you need it. With the advancement in technology came the tankless water heater, which heats water directly as it flows through the pipes, allowing you to have hot water on demand.

The primary advantage of tankless water heaters over conventional models is that they conserve space as well as energy. These two benefits go hand-in-hand — tankless heaters save energy by not storing water, as they practically consume very little to no energy when hot water isn’t required. According to energy pros, tankless water heaters typically consume up to 50 percent less energy than traditional water heaters, which can help you earn savings of $100 or more each year.

Another advantage is that they also offer a continuous supply of water, whereas with units with tanks, your hot water is limited to what’s in the tank. Once the tank’s content is empty, you’ll have to wait for it to fill up and heat up water before you can have hot water again.

Modern tankless heaters also typically come in very small sizes that are no larger than an average briefcase, thus freeing up space in your home which would have otherwise been allocated for a very sizeable tank.

That said, there are situations in which a tankless water heater will be a bad fit. For starters, the upfront cost is more expensive in comparison to a traditional heater. Likewise, the installation process is going to cost more, because tankless water heater installation requires the expertise of a professional plumber. If you are thinking about buying a tankless heater, getting a comprehensive and accurate quote is necessary to compute your projected long-term savings and justify paying for the higher upfront cost.

Source:

The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters, familyhandyman.com