National Water Service: What Are the Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters?

Pros & Cons Tankless Water Heaters

A tankless water heater can be a great long-term investment for many homeowners, no matter where you live. This type of water heater doesn’t store hot water: it heats it on demand. Because tankless hot water heaters don’t need to hold a full volume of hot water, they can also save money on energy costs when compared with traditional units that you’re probably currently using.

Tankless water heaters are a more attractive option for homeowners due to their efficiency, convenience, and potential energy savings. But if you are thinking about swapping to a tankless water heater, it is important to weigh the pros and cons before investing in one. Let’s take a look.

Pros of a Tankless Water Heater Installation

A tankless water heater is designed to improve the efficiency of your hot water, save space in your house, and have a zero risk of exploding. Here are a few advantages of installing tankless water heaters in your house.

Energy Savings

tankless water heaters provide great energy savingsTank-style water heaters waste a lot of energy keeping a large supply of hot water at a set temperature.

On the other hand, tankless units only start up when hot water is needed, thereby reducing energy costs significantly. They can be installed with little or no disruption to the household, and are quite simple to operate.

That said, energy efficiency is the biggest perk of tankless water heaters as they don’t need to store 50 gallons of water to offer you a hot bath. Although they are more expensive than their tank-style counterparts, the upfront investment pays off in the long run.

Tankless water heaters can save up to 50% on your electric bill because they turn themselves off when they aren’t being used.

Leakage Proof

tankless water heaters are leak proofYou don’t want your house to flood, and by getting a tankless water heater, you greatly decrease the odds of that happening.

After years of making life slightly difficult, tank-style heaters have the nasty habit of leaks and flooding. Even worse is the blocked-up pipes that follow. And over time, minerals from hard water can build-up within the tank, causing it to corrode and leak.

Since a tankless water heater doesn’t have a tank for storing water, there is nothing to overflow, making it leakage-proof.

Better Durability

tankless water heaters are durableAside from having a smaller carbon footprint than traditional water heaters, it is also worth noting that tankless water heaters have the longest life expectancy of all types of water heaters.

The average tank-style water heater lasts between 8 and 12 years. But tankless water heaters usually last over 20 years. So, if you are planning to live in your current house perpetually, tankless water heaters could be the right choice.

Instant Hot Water

instant how water with tankless water heatersTankless water heaters are also referred to as demand-type water heaters. This is because they can provide you with hot water almost instantly, which is also what makes them a popular choice among many new homeowners: no more waiting around, hot water when and where you need it, instantly. 

Cons of a Tankless Water Heater Installation

Tankless units make it easier for homeowners to be greener because hot water doesn’t need to sit unused in a tank that is constantly losing heat from its walls. They have also been proven to last longer than traditional water heaters and it is estimated that they will last double the time before you have any warning signs of failing parts. But they still aren’t perfect.

Below are a few disadvantages of installing tankless water heaters in your house.

High Upfront Costs

traditional water heaters cost less up front than tankless water heatersTankless water heaters are directly attached to the plumbing system and may require special wiring, which can add up the installation costs. They also take up to $500 more than the traditional systems to be installed even though they end up saving a lot more over time.

Due to the expensive initial setup cost, tankless water heaters are often less appealing options for homeowners.

Heavily reliant on electricity

tankless water heaters need consistent powerTankless water heaters are typically advertised as an environmentally friendly way to produce hot water because they use less energy than a traditional storage tank. That’s because they use 8% to 50% less energy than storage tanks, which is why they require a constant power supply to deliver hot water.

So, if you live in an area prone to frequent storms or power outages, a tankless water heater won’t do you much good. If you know this is an issue in your area, stick with a traditional water heater.

Limited hot water supply

water spilling out of a glass to signify that tankless water heaters do not heat as much waterTank-style water heaters can store a larger amount of water and thus provide you an almost unlimited supply of hot water. Unlike tanks, tankless systems have got a limited capacity of 30 to 100 liters. That’s why the most common complaint about a tankless water heater is that it produces limited hot water.

Besides, when you turn on the hot water, the gas unit will first warm up the tanks until it can provide you with the water you need. And you may get cold or lukewarm water for the first couple of minutes before the hot water finally reaches you. That’s probably one of the reasons why many people prefer not to use them with showers as you require a steady flow of hot water to enjoy your bath.

Upkeep challenges

tankless water heaters require a water company to do upkeepExtreme winters can lead to calcium build-up inside the tank and increase your upkeep cost. Therefore, you are required to carry out regular maintenance work on tankless systems if you wish to avoid major water heater repairs.

Tankless heaters are known to last longest in home setups that do not experience large fluctuations in water temperature. Additionally, if you live in a hard water area, softening your water might also help protect your heater. These are all challenges to discuss with your water company to ensure a tankless water heater is the right option for you. 

conclusion

A good water heater is one of the most important parts of your plumbing system. If you don’t already have a tankless water heater or would like to upgrade to a new one, we offer water heater services in Darnestown. Our technicians are experienced in repairing and installing a variety of water heaters in Highland MD. Get in touch with us today to discuss the right option for your home.