What Are The Benefits Of A Tankless Water System?

Most people never really think about their hot water tanks. Like an air conditioning unit or furnace, a water heater does its job out of sight and out of mind. Only when it fails to provide warm water, drives up energy costs, or is on its last legs of life do people really think about their hot water heater.

If you find that your water heater only provides cold water, has a high cost, or simply needs regular maintenance to operate, it may be time to buy a new water heater. Tankless water heaters are a relatively new way to heat water quickly and efficiently. These electric tankless heaters also offer many advantages in comparison to traditional storage tank heaters.

Before you decide to buy a tankless water heater, evaluate the pros and cons. This will help you make an informed decision as to whether a tankless heater is best for you.

What Are Tankless Water Heaters?

Tankless water heaters, also known as in-demand or instant hot water heaters, are a new take on traditional storage water heaters. Typically, a water heater will be quite large and have a storage tank. In this tank, water is stored and continuously heated and reheated. This ensures that there is hot water available for use at any moment.

In comparison, a tankless water heater heats water instantly. When someone turns on the tap, water begins to flow through the water heater. High-powered gas burners and electric coils heat the water in seconds before it is pumped out and directed to the faucet that is turned on. This ensures that homeowners have enough hot water for whatever they are doing, whether they’re having a quick shower, running their dishwasher, or doing a load of laundry.

The Advantages Of A Tankless Water Heater

A Long Life Expectancy

When you buy a tankless water heater, you are purchasing an investment. Tankless hot water heaters last approximately 20 years before they need to be replaced. This is much longer than the traditional models which have an average lifespan of 10 years. The long lifespan of tankless models is extremely beneficial and can help avoid homeowners from having to spend more money in the long run.

Energy Efficient

One of the most obvious benefits of a tankless water heater is its energy efficiency. Tankless water heaters require much less energy than a traditional water tank because it’s not constantly heating water. In fact, households that use less than 41 gallons of hot water per day will find a tankless heater to be 24-34% more efficient than a tank heater. This could help homeowners save a great deal of money on their electric bills.

Space-Saving

Tankless units take up less space than traditional water heaters because they do not require large storage tanks. An electric tankless unit is also hung on the wall, freeing up space in your laundry room or closet.

On-Demand Hot Water

The most obvious advantage of tankless water heaters is their on-demand hot water supply. Tankless heaters can heat several gallons of water at once to quickly supply a shower, dishwasher, or laundry machine with water. This is great for houses with heavy water usage. Simply evaluate the flow rate or GPM (Gallons Per Minute) to determine how much water it can heat quickly.

Cons Of Tankless Water Heaters

Although tankless water heaters are energy-efficient, save space, and can heater quickly, there are some disadvantages to these models.

Installation Costs

Tankless hot water heaters’ longer lifespan and promise of energy efficiency make units inherently more expensive to buy and install. However, these upfront installation costs shouldn’t dissuade homeowners from purchasing a tankless water heater.

These water heating units promise energy savings and do not need to be replaced as offer as traditional units. The federal government also offers a tax credit for those installing an Energy-Star model. This will help reduce the cost of installation and offer more savings.

Natural Gas Requirements

Because a tankless water heater uses electric coils and gas burners to heat water, homeowners will need to attach a gas line to their water heater. This could cost homeowners a great deal if they need to re-route their gas line during installation.

Choose Polcomfort Heating & Cooling Solutions

If you’ve weighed the pros and cons of a tankless water heater and decided this modern, efficient technology is right for you, contact Polcomfort Heating and Cooling Solutions. Our skilled water heater installers can provide you an estimate for your new tankless heater.