If your home needs a new water heater, you have multiple options available to you on today’s market. These include traditional water heaters, which contain a tank that holds and warms your water throughout the day, but they also include modern options known as tankless water heaters, which utilize no tank and instead create on-demand hot water for the homes they’re installed in.
At 24 Hour Rooter Connectionz Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, we’re happy to offer numerous water heater services, including basic repair and replacement tips for situations where your current heater is wearing down or aging. If you’re considering a tankless water heater, we’re happy to provide you with tips and expertise in this realm, including recommendations on when the ideal time is to make this change. Here’s a primer on tankless water heaters and whether they might be a worthwhile upgrade for your home.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?
Also known as on-demand water heaters, tankless water heaters are modern options that utilize no tank and instead produce the hot water that your home needs when you need it. Traditional water heaters utilize a tank to hold the water that’s been heated, keeping this energy from being wasted throughout the day.
Tankless units use pumps that force warm tap water through coils to produce hot water as needed, saving power while providing you an endless stream of hot water. This heat is provided by either a gas-fired burner or an electric unit, with both these serving as viable options depending on your home’s power sources and your personal preferences.
Tankless water heaters are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 25-100 gallons. For most homes under 3,500 square feet and that feature three to four bathrooms, 50 gallons is typically more than enough hot water for your needs. The numbers on your tank’s model will correspond roughly to the amount of gallons it can hold at a time, so be sure to measure your home and your expected water usage before purchasing one of these units.
General Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters offer several distinct benefits over traditional water heaters, including each of the following:
- Efficiency: Tankless water heaters are generally more energy efficient than conventional models, largely because they do not need to spend all day constantly heating water; rather, they only heat it when needed.
- Cost savings: According to HomeAdvisor, you can expect to save an average of $130 per year in energy costs if you switch from a traditional water heater to a tankless unit. This money can go toward other projects around your home or provide you with extra savings.
- Convenience: Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand, so if you need a shower in the morning or to run the washing machine in the evening, your unit will be able to provide this energy without delay. This convenience can allow you to reduce your total home energy consumption, compared with a traditional model that must run throughout the entire day to keep water hot.
- Safety: Tankless units also provide improved safety, and gas models can ensure your home is free from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Disadvantages of Tankless Water Heaters
Although tankless water heaters offer some distinct advantages over traditional models, they do have a few disadvantages as well, including the following:
- Installation cost: Installing a tankless water heater can be expensive. While you’ll see significant savings over time, it’s important to have a realistic budget and consider what installation costs will do to your home’s bottom line.
- Space: Tankless water heaters are smaller than traditional tank options, but there could be some situations where their fit isn’t as ideal.
Tankless Water Heater Recommendations
When deciding on whether to install a tankless water heater, consider each of these elements:
- Type of tankless water heater: Tankless water heaters come in various forms, including gas models that provide additional safety.
- Installation cost: You’ll need to assess how much it costs to install your new unit, plus how quickly you can recoup up-front costs due to improved efficiency.
- Energy efficiency: Tankless water heaters are generally more efficient than traditional options and can help you save money, but you’ll want to decide on a specific model and be aware of its specific efficiency factors and how these compare to traditional models.
- Your home’s water usage: Tankless water heaters that provide a greater volume of hot water can help you save money throughout the day by ensuring that your family has all the hot water it needs, rather than letting it go unused. In tank options, significant amounts of water are often wasted.
- Storage space available: Tankless water heaters are much smaller than traditional units, and can even be mounted on the wall rather than sitting on the floor.
- Impact on home value: Tankless water heaters cost more up front, but also improve property value and curb appeal. It’s important to consider how this upgrade will affect your personal financial situation, and how these improvements may drive value when you’re ready to sell your home.
- Do you prefer endless hot water, or a higher flow rate? Tankless water heaters are limited to about five gallons of hot water per minute, while traditional heater flow rates are higher.
Schedule a Tankless Water Heater Consultation
Our team of plumbers is here to help if you’re considering a tankless water heater, but unsure if you should pull the trigger. We’ll visit your home and perform a full consultation, then offer our recommendations. Call the team at 24 Hour Rooter Connectionz today to book an appointment, and we’ll help you find the right tankless water heater for your home!