The Pros And Cons Of Tankless Water Heaters

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My water heater was the last thing I want to be worrying about at this point in time. If it was actually doing what it’s supposed to, then I wouldn’t be thinking about it every second. Between rusty coloured water and frequent pilot outages and service calls over the past six months, it had gotten way more attention than it deserves. I came to the conclusion that it had reached the end of its life span, so I started looking for a more energy efficient water heating solution. I called my local service company who specializes in tankless water heating, and with their help, I chose to have a tankless water heater installed.

Here are a few things you should consider when the time comes to replace your water heater with a tankless.

What You Need To Know About Tankless Water Heaters?

Just as the name suggests, a tankless water heater doesn’t come with a tank. It’s opposite to what you have been seeing in your basement or furnace room. The functions are ultimately different too because you don’t need to store the hot water in a tank until it’s needed. Rather, the tankless water heater only heats up the water when it’s needed.

storage water heaterWith the traditional storage tank water heater, when the heated water is finished, more water will be added then heated to a certain temperature. It remains in the tank until it is needed. Of course, there are cases when you need hot water and it’s not available because it takes time for the water to be heated again. Therefore, the tankless water heater systems are more superior.

With the heat exchanger, you can get hot water whenever you need it. The heat exchanger is turned on when you are using the shower, dishwasher, washing machine or your faucets. The hot water passes through the coils then to the hot water outlet pipe and lands in your laundry room, kitchen or bathroom. If you don’t need hot water, the cold water will stop getting into the water heater and it turns off until you need hot water again.

The Advantages Of A Tankless Water Heater

1. Long Lasting – The tankless water heaters are constructed using the best materials. Thus they have a very tankless water heater installation examplelong life span. They also have ridiculously low operating costs. Also, some of the newer models have replaceable parts so there’s no long-term impact on the environment.

2. Endless Hot Water – A lot of storage tanks are limited to the size of the tank. Your hot water often runs out if everyone uses it before you do. Well, with the tankless water heater, you can use hot water whenever you need it and as long as there is enough energy to heat it up.

3. Conservation Of Energy – With a traditional water heater, the appliance needs to turn on and off repeatedly to keep the water warm and ready to use whenever needed. Eventually, you will spend a lot of money on your utility bills. With the tankless options, the water is heated quickly whenever needed and proves to be more energy efficient. At least 94% energy efficiency rating with the tankless water heaters means that your utility bills will reduce accordingly.

4. Saving Space – Real estate has become very expensive the last few years. People are now being forced to live in smaller spaces. Therefore installing traditional water heaters will take up a lot of space in your home causing a lot of inconvenience. A tankless water heater doesn’t need a lot of space. Actually, you will install it near the roof and there is a lot of room to do whatever you want with it.

5. Eco-Friendly – Tankless water heaters reduce the consumption of non-renewable fuel resources. Also, they can be repaired easily with replaceable parts. Note that, with the traditional water heaters, you need to replace them entirely when they are damaged.

The Disadvantages Of Tankless Water Heaters

1. High Installation Costs – You should expect to pay a huge amount with the upfront costs such as buying Tankless water heater the water heater itself and installing it in your home. As part of the installation, you need to consider new venting and gas lines. Although, this is a considerable disadvantage for people on a budget, you should know that you will recover the costs after installation. You will start saving a lot of money with reduced energy use and bills.

2. Reduced Water Output – A 60 gallon tank with hot water might be considered wasteful but it’s quite convenient, especially when you need to do laundry, take a shower and run the dishwasher concurrently. A tankless water heater might be more energy efficient but it has a reduced water output. In most cases, you might be forced to install more than one in your home. You should choose a tankless water heater that fits your lifestyle to avoid any inconveniences.

Should You Rent Or Buy A Tankless Water Heater?

When you are considering a tankless water heater, you need to ascertain whether buying or renting is the best choice for you. If you choose to buy one, you should encounter some upfront costs but there are no rental fees. However, you will be responsible for the repair and maintenance fees of the water heater.

On the other hand, if you choose to rent your tankless water heater, you can choose a good rental plan. For instance, you can get one with free installation offers and get the required warranties at the most affordable price. Take the time to weight the various options and choose the best one for you.