Tankless Water Heaters: What Are They and How Are They Beneficial?

What is a tankless water heater, exactly? It’s a more modern system that deviates significantly from your conventional hot water storage tank. When you activate your hot water from anywhere in your home, it first travels through a special pipe and into the tankless unit where a gas-powered burner or electrical device heats it. The tankless method ensures that you have steady access to hot water at all times.

The average system provides up to 5 gallons of hot water per minute. Gas-fired models can typically produce more hot water at a higher rate, which is very ideal for medium-sized families. You may also want to consider installing multiple units if your household exceeds more than four people, which will ensure that there is enough available hot water at all times.

Tankless water heaters are becoming increasingly popular because they provide you with an endless supply of hot water. This represents a major upgrade from traditional storage tanks which can supply you with only so much hot water at one time. Tankless systems are also typically a lot more long-lasting. Traditional water heaters will usually last for up to 15 years before they begin to decline and perform a lot less optimally. A tankless water heater has roughly double the lifespan of a traditional water heating system. Opting for a tankless unit means that you won’t have to worry about replacing it for an extra 10 to 20 years.

Your monthly utility bills are also going to be lower with a tankless system. That’s because they are much more energy-efficient, which means that you will save hundreds of dollars every year. Tankless systems also take up a lot less space than a traditional storage tank, which can be extremely bulky and unwieldy. Installations are also a breeze: all the installer needs to do is mount them on the wall in your basement in a place where you won’t even notice it. This can be incredibly beneficial for anyone who lives in a smaller home and needs as much space as they can get.

You will also no longer lose hot water to any idleness in usage. With a traditional storage tank, the system has to reheat the water constantly just to ensure that the hot water is available to you when you need it. This will obviously drive up your energy costs and it puts a lot of unnecessary demand on your heating system.

The biggest reason why everyone is opting for a tankless system is that they have reliable access to hot water and never run out of it. Once your storage tank contains no more hot water, you have to wait for it to fill up again and produce more hot water. This can be incredibly frustrating for anyone living in a household with four or more people where everyone is taking showers right after each other. A tankless system ensures that everyone gets to take a nice hot shower right when they need it the most. You will no longer have to rely on there being hot water in reserve.

With tankless systems, you have the option of an electric or gas model. Most tankless units are gas-powered, but you can still find plenty of electric models on the market. However, with a tankless water heater that relies on gas, you may need to perform some pricey and difficult alterations by rerouting your gas lines. You can easily avoid all this by purchasing a tankless unit that doesn’t use gas. Furthermore, with tankless water heaters, you will usually receive a long warranty from the manufacturer. If something happens to your unit, you won’t have to pay for any repairs or a replacement. Many warranties last up to 20 years, which is the average lifespan of a tankless water heater.

A tankless water heater is certainly an upgrade from many of the traditional systems, but there are few drawbacks that you should know about before you make a decision. The main issue with a tankless system is that there will be a hefty upfront cost to acquire and install it. The cheapest system will usually begin price-wise at around $1,000. Some of the specialized and high-quality models will certainly cost you more money and may require some additional financing.

With some of the smaller units, you shouldn’t expect them to produce enough hot water to serve your entire household adequately. They’ll usually only work for one faucet at a time. Running your dishwater and showering at the same time is out of the question. You will need to invest in a larger unit if you want it to accommodate your entire family, which will cost you more money.

Tankless units typically use high-powered burners, which means that they will have special ventilation requirements. Under certain circumstances, you will need to install a professional ventilation system dedicated to your tankless water heater. Furthermore, gas burners often need a larger diameter gas pipe, which can also increase the price of installation.

Let’s face it, those bulky storage tanks for your hot water are becoming an outdated system. Your utility bills are higher, you have less available storage space in your home, you have limited access to hot water, and you will need to replace your unit a lot sooner than you would want. Think about making the switch to a tankless water heater today and reap the rewards of a system that is much more accommodating and advanced. Despite the higher costs, you are getting a lot more value out of what you invest in your water heating system.

Have any questions? Call us today and speak with one of our qualified plumbers about the advantages of installing a tankless water heater. They can also provide you additional information on pricing and scheduling an in-person consultation.