Tankless water heaters are now becoming popular among forward-thinking homeowners. Unlike standard water heaters, which continuously heat water to keep it hot in the tank; tankless water heaters generate warm water instantly with powerful electric coils or gas burner. When the tap is turned on, cold water moves into the unit and is quickly heated. More power is required to heat water instantly, but since tankless water heaters don’t heat water again and again, they utilize less energy.
Some homeowners find tankless water heaters as better options over standard units while others prefer to stick with the conventional water heating units. Tankless water heaters may be a good option for you depending upon your specific circumstances. If you are currently thinking of replacing your water heating unit, you may consider getting a tankless water heater. But, before you make your decision, it’s a good idea to consider the pros of cons of these systems.
Pros of Tankless Water Heaters
1. Unlimited Supply of Hot Water
A tankless water heater heats water when it’s required. When the tap of water is turned on, the tankless heater instantly heats the water with the help of electric coils or gas burner. With water heaters that use a tank, you may run out of hot water when you are taking a long shower. If you use all the hot water in the tank, your family member would have to wait before they can enjoy a hot shower. But, the same can never happen if you have installed a tankless water heater since water is heated on demand. Just turn on the tap and enjoy a hot shower without worrying about running out of hot water.
2. Longer Lifespan
Tankless water heater units last longer than the standard units. A standard water heater lasts for about ten years while tankless models are designed to function for more than 20 years. This means that if you opt for the tankless water heater, you can avoid the headache of replacing your water heating unit after every ten years.
3. Longer Warranties
Since tankless water heaters have a longer life expectancy, they come with longer warranties. This means that if you experience any issue in your tankless water heater, you won’t have to pay anything for repairs.
4. Energy Conservation
When water is stored in a tank, it loses heat continuously because of which traditional water heating units must always stay on to keep the water warm. This leads to higher utility bills. On the other hand, tankless units heat the water quickly and on demand which makes them more energy-efficient. This means that you can save your valuable dollars on utility bills by installing a tankless water heater in your home.
5. More Compact
Tankless heaters are much smaller than water heaters with tanks. You don’t have to sacrifice basement space or garage space for tankless water. They can be easily mounted on a wall providing more space on the ground.
Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
1. Flow Rate is Limited
While you can enjoy long hot showers with a tankless water heater as they constantly provide warm water, their flow rate is limited. Typically, gas-fired tankless heaters have a flow rate of 5 gallons per minute while electric tankless water heaters can produce hot water at a flow rate of 2 gallons per minute. This means that you can’t get enough warm water to run the dishwater and take a hot shower simultaneously. This is why some households install multiple tankless water heaters to fulfill their requirements.
2. Higher Initial Costs
Although tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than standard units, they are generally more costly. The average cost of a tankless heater is around $1,500 to $2,000. The installation costs are exempt from this figure. These models have higher installation and factoring labor fees into the costs makes them much more expensive than traditional models.
3. Additional Equipment is Required
One of the biggest drawbacks of tankless water heater is that they can’t handle hard water for a long time. Hard water is rough on tankless heaters and if it continuously passes through the tankless water heater, your expensive unit will be ruined.
Therefore, tankless water heaters usually require a water softener to operate properly. This additional equipment adds to the price tag of the unit. Moreover, water softeners are bulky and will require additional space. This means that you’ll lose the space-saving advantage of a tankless water heater.
4. Maintenance
Tankless water heaters can although last longer than standard units, but they require more maintenance. If you want your tankless water heater to function properly for more than 20 years, you’ll have to ensure its regular maintenance. Tankless water heaters must be cleaned and flushed every month to prevent build-up of mineral deposits. In addition to flushing and cleaning, their filters must also be changed often. Tankless water heater is only the right option for you if you can ensure its regular maintenance.
Now that you know all the pros and cons of tankless water heaters, do you think these water heaters are a better option for you than standard units? If you think that you’ll be better off with a tankless water heater, then get this water heating unit from Mesa Plumbing Company.
Tankless water heaters can also be bought from Home Department Store, but we don’t advise you purchase one from there. The reason is that buying a tankless water heater will prove to be expensive for you as you’ll have to pay extra to get it transported and installed at your home. When you buy a tankless water heater from Mesa Plumbing Company, everything from transportation and installation is covered in the cost which allows you to save a few bucks.