Tankless water heater vs. hot water tank. It doesn’t seem like a flashy topic, but it is a surprisingly common part of casual conversation.
Reason being, here in the far north where winter is by far our longest season, we sure do like our hot water!
Conversely, we really do not like to start yet another long, cold winter day with a lukewarm or even cold shower. But if you don’t have the right hot water heater setup for your home, you may find yourself in this unfortunate situation morning after morning.
In this blog post, our Shipton’s HVAC specialists highlight the top five signs it is time to make the switch from a traditional tank hot water heater to a tankless hot water heater system.
Be sure to read to the end for a time-sensitive $250 hot water savings offer you won’t want to miss!
What Is a Tankless Water Heater vs. a Hot Water Tank?
Before we dive into the five signs it is time to switch from tank to tankless hot water, let’s just briefly discuss the hallmarks of a true tankless hot water heater.
First off, you could as easily call a tankless hot water heater an on-demand hot water heater.
A traditional tank hot water heater has a tank that holds pre-heated hot water. These systems can be large or small, from a small 10-gallon tank all the way up to a 50+ gallon tank. Not surprisingly, the larger the tank, the more floor space these systems require!
How does a tankless water heater work?
Tankless hot water heaters don’t have a tank so their size stays fairly constant regardless of capacity, which is measured in flow rate instead of tank size.
Now that you have a working definition of a true tankless water heater vs a hot water tank, let’s talk about how to know a tankless system is right for you.
5 Signs It’s Time to Switch to Tankless
How many of these five signs apply to you? If your current hot water heater isn’t performing to your satisfaction, it might be time to switch.
Another option is to consider adding a tankless hot water heater to supplement your conventional tank hot water system.
1. Your current hot water heater isn’t keeping up with demand.
This is the number one reason our Shipton’s customers contact us to ask about switching to or adding on a tankless hot water heater solution.
There are a few reasons why an existing hot water heater might deliver sub-par performance.
a) Old age. Is your conventional hot water heater six years or older? Many traditional tank hot water heaters only have a six to nine year useful lifespan.
b) Poor maintenance. If you have inherited your current hot water heater along with a home purchase, you might not even know if the prior owners did any maintenance to extend the life of your unit.
c) Inadequately meeting the demand. Increasing demand for hot water often happens as your family grows or your daily habits change.
2. You sure could use some extra floor space!
Even small tank hot water heaters can demand a surprising amount of floor space – both for the unit itself and for the three-foot fire safety perimeter.
How would you like that closet back? Or those six feet of floor space where your current hot water heater is sitting? A tankless hot water heater can do it.
3. You want a long-term “set-it-and-forget-it” source of hot water.
Earlier here we mentioned that many tank hot water heaters conk out after just six to nine years.
Tankless hot water heaters that are properly installed and maintained can easily last as long as 15 years.
4. You are ready for some relief from winter hot water heating bills.
It takes a surprising amount of energy to keep even 10 to 20 gallons of water heated and ready for your use 24/7 inside a hot water heater tank. This is especially true if your hot water heater is electric!
For this reason, it makes sense that your energy bills will be reduced when your water is only heated at the time you really need it.
5. You care about the planet and want to conserve energy.
Not only will you enjoy lower hot water heating bills, but the planet will benefit from your choice of a tankless hot water heater too.
These units are smaller, require less materials to construct and less energy to run.
Calculate What Size Tankless Hot Water Heater You Need
How much is a tankless water heater? This depends on the size of the system needed.
Calculating your total hot water demand at any given time can feel like shooting at a moving target. Your Shipton’s HVAC service technician is happy to help you with this!
But here are two factors to think about in the meantime.
1. Tankless hot water demand is measured using flow rate.
Flow rate is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). Different fixtures use different flow rates. For example, a dishwasher typically requires a 3GPM flow rate. A sink only requires a 1GPM flow rate.
2. Tankless hot water temperature demands depends on temperature rise.
In Canada, our groundwater stays fairly cold year-round. In winter, groundwater temperatures can be downright frigid.
The difference between groundwater temperature and 110 degrees Fahrenheit (37.77 degrees Celsius) is called the temperature rise – the amount of heating your tankless unit needs to do to produce truly hot water.
Flow rate is negatively impacted by increases in temperature rise.
Our Shipton’s HVAC Technicians are Hamilton’s Hot Water Heater Installation and Service Experts
Unhappy with your home’s current hot water situation? Exhausted with having to juggle your hot water needs daily? Our Shipton’s HVAC technicians can help!
Right now, save $250 on installation for any new tankless hot water heater system.
Give us a call at 1-905-549-4616 or visit us online for a free estimate to ensure your whole family has plenty of hot water to use and share all winter long!
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