There are many things to consider when you are thinking about purchasing a new water heater. One option is a tankless water heater, or you can choose a storage tank heater. Tankless water heaters have several advantages and drawbacks that you should take into account before making your final decision.
If you’re considering a tankless hot water system for your Louisville area home, you probably want to know the tankless water heater pros and cons. These elements are extremely helpful for homeowners to learn about the energy efficiency, hot water supply, lifespan, tankless unit size, and other specifics of electric tankless water heaters and natural gas tankless water heater systems.
Jarboe’s Plumbing, Heating & Cooling helps Louisville homeowners understand all aspects of an electric tankless water heater or tankless gas water heater before you choose to have one installed. Here’s a quick rundown of the advantages and disadvantages of these energy-efficient appliances. When you’re ready to make your tankless water heater selection, our team of licensed plumbers offer expert installation to ensure the quality of instant hot water and energy-efficient performance from your tankless hot water heater.
There are two main categories of tankless water heaters: electric tankless water heaters and natural gas models. Electric models use electricity to heat the electric coils and heating elements, which then heats the water. Gas units use either natural gas or propane, which is burned in a gas burner and the heat exchanger generates heated water for a temperature rise. Both types of tankless water heaters, a natural gas or an electric model, are very energy efficient and can allow you to save energy and save money on your natural gas or electric bill.
Most homeowners are used to conventional water heaters but less familiar with tankless water heaters. If you’re trying to choose between a tank water heater and a tankless water heater, it helps to know how they compare. First, lets learn about the positives associated with installing a tankless water heater in your home.
If you’ve ever taken a cold shower because your water heater ran out of hot water, you know how frustrating it can be. With a tankless water heater, you’ll never have to worry about that again. A tankless water heater provides a constant supply of hot water. As long as it has a flow of cold water running through it, it heats water on demand – which is one reason you’ll also hear them called demand-type water heaters.
The problem with traditional storage water heater units is that they only send hot water to a hot water tap when a tank is full. If tank-style heaters are empty, how much hot water is restricted and you have to wait for the tank to fill before you can take a hot shower or perform any other hot water usage. With a tankless system, you get instant access to hot water and a seemingly endless supply of hot water flow, which means less wasted time waiting for your shower to heat up or your dishwasher to finish washing dishes.
If you’re looking to increase energy savings and save some cash on your monthly energy bill, then you might want to consider installing a new tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters are more efficient than their traditional counterparts, saving you money on your energy bill each month. On average, a tankless system will use 8 to 34 % less energy than a standard water heater. That means less wasted energy and lower utility bills for you.
Tankless water heaters are much more efficient than traditional ones because they only heat the water when you need it. These units use less energy to heat water on demand, rather than wasting energy keeping a tank of hot water constantly available.
Tankless heaters are a great option for those looking for a more durable water heater. With a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, tankless heaters outlast traditional storage tank heaters by a decade or more.
One of the reasons tankless heaters last longer is because they don’t have any internal tanks that can corrode over time. This simple design change limits the number of potential issues that could lead the water heater to break down.
Another great benefit is that tankless water heaters take up much less space than traditional ones. So if you’re tight on space in your home, this is a perfect solution for you. Unlike traditional storage tank water heaters, tankless units don’t need to store a large reserve of hot water, so they can be smaller. They’re often installed on the wall, which takes up no floor space.
A tankless water heater is a great choice for those looking for an upgrade without any worries about safety issues. These units are typically safer than traditional water heaters with storage tanks, as they have a lower risk of corrosion and resulting leaks because they don’t store water, which can hold minerals that degrade the appliance. Additionally, in the event of a malfunction or tank exploding, a tankless unit won’t send gallons of water flooding into your home, destroying your house and property.
While there are many great qualities of tankless water heaters, there are some areas where a traditional water heater can hold the advantages. Now that you know the pluses of tankless systems, lets talk about the drawbacks you might experience if you choose to install one at your Louisville home.
Tankless water heaters cost more than traditional tank heaters. Typically, the tankless water heater costs average around 25 to 50 % higher than the price of a conventional water heater. While the upfront cost can be more, operating costs are lower, so over time they may even out.
Gas models usually cost more than electric ones. Also, installation may require some extra work, like rerouting gas lines or upgrading electrical wiring, which will further increase the installation costs. Finally, installing a water softener is often necessary to keep the unit from being damaged by mineral buildup. With the savings generated toward energy costs, the deficit on your energy bills can help you make up for the higher installation costs of a tankless heater over time.
While they can be more energy efficient than traditional storage heaters, tankless water heaters may not be able to provide enough hot water for simultaneous multiple uses. So if you like to run the dishwasher, take a shower, and do other household hot water chores around the same time of day, you need to consider this possibility before you buy a tankless unit. To avoid this problem, it’s important to install a tankless water heater with a flow rate high enough to meet your home’s peak hot water demand.
This happens when the tankless water heater has a lower flow rate that can’t accommodate your rate of simultaneous hot water usage. It can result in lukewarm water, especially if multiple outlets are being used at the same time. Storage heaters, on the other hand, can easily provide consistent water temperatures to multiple taps – as long as there’s enough stored hot water in the tank.
A professional plumber will help you make sure your new tankless water heater has the proper flow rate for heating water to accommodate all hot water usage at any time of day.
If you are using a tankless water heater, you may notice that the temperature of the water can fluctuate when you are using multiple outlets at the same time. This is sometimes referred to as a “cold water sandwich.”
Essentially, what happens is that when you turn on the hot water, you may feel a initial burst of hot water, followed by cold water. However, the cold water will quickly turn hot again. Although this may not be a huge problem, some homeowners prefer to avoid this side effect altogether.
If you have a tankless water heater, you may be in for a cold shower if the power goes out. That’s because all tankless water heaters – gas and electric – require electricity to operate. So during a power outage, there’s no easy way to heat water when you have a tankless unit.
Water heaters are an absolute necessity in Louisville homes, and tankless water heaters are a perfect option for saving money and reducing energy costs versus storage tank models. Jarboe’s Plumbing, Heating & Cooling will be happy to help explain more about the tankless water heater pros and cons so you can make a comfortable purchase decision that improves your household. Call us today to receive an estimate that covers the installation costs associated with new tankless water heaters.