Pros of Tankless Water Heaters
A tankless water heater offers several advantages for a homeowner. You’ll experience energy efficiency as well as lower operating costs. They also take up less room than a traditional water heater with a tank.
Energy Savings
You’ll have to spend more money upfront when purchasing a tankless water heating system. Generally speaking, water heaters with tanks are a lower up front cost than tankless water heaters. However, over time, the cost of a tankless water heater should pay for itself in energy savings.
When using a tankless water heater, the hot water is provided on demand; when you need hot water, it is instantaneously heated for you. This eliminates wasted energy used to heat and store the water until it is needed.
Long Lifespan
A traditional water heater with a tank has an average lifespan of 10 to 13 years. A tankless water heater is expected to last for as many as 20 years. You’ll be saving a lot of money in replacement costs if you are planning to remain in your current home for quite some time. If you do plan to sell, a tankless heater can raise the value of the home and be an excellent incentive to potential buyers.
Less Space
One of the biggest advantages to a tankless heater is the small amount of space required. A traditional water heater with a tank averages 60 inches tall by 24 inches wide.
A tankless water heating system is comparable in size to having a desktop computer in the home. On average, they’ll be roughly 28 inches tall by 20 inches wide, with a depth of only 10 inches.
Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
Although a tankless water heater sounds wonderful, there are some things to carefully consider before making your purchase.
Limited Output
Traditional water heaters with tanks hold approximately 40 to 60 gallons of hot water ready to be used. This is plenty to handle laundry, showers, and other needs in most homes. Modern units also reheat more water rather quickly so you’re not as likely to run out.
Tankless water heaters heat the water as it’s used. It can take a bit longer to get the water up to temperature, and, if you’re using a steady supply of hot water for a long shower, the burners can kick on and off a few times, leaving you with momentary hits of cold or cooler water.
Energy Requirements
A traditional water heater with a tank can use between 30,000 and 50,000 BTU of propane or natural gas when heating the water. Tankless heaters require 150,000 to 200,000 BTU to instantly heat the water as it is needed.
Check your home’s ability to handle this demand. Some homes have a low pressure main. This means the homeowner is limited to a low BTU amount that is spread among several gas appliances. In thiscases, you won’t be able to get the BTU amount a tankless water heating system requires.
Get a Free Consultation To Help You Decide Which Water Heater Is Best For You and Your Family
There are advantages and disadvantages to either traditional, or tankless water heaters. Let us help you sort through your options and figure out which would be best for you and your family. Contact Shipton’s today for a free consultation.
