Tankless water heaters can significantly increase a home’s comfort, energy savings, space, convenience and safety. The benefits of tankless water heaters make them an incredibly worthwhile investment that can save homeowners money.
While tankless models typically have a higher initial cost than tank models, they are more efficient and last longer than traditional water heaters. Their ability to heat water on demand allows you to enjoy long, hot showers and use hot water appliances without waiting for more water to heat up. They can also help you save money throughout the year, providing an outstanding return on investment.
What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
Tankless water heaters are smaller, more efficient plumbing fixtures than traditional tank storage water heaters. While traditional models store hot water in a tank, tankless heaters heat water on demand without a tank. On-demand heating capabilities allow tankless heaters to provide endless hot water. A traditional heater requires you to wait for hot water to collect and heat up after using the tank’s water supply, but a tankless heater provides water whenever you need it.
A tankless water heater heats water by sending cold water through a heat exchanger. As water flows through the heat exchanger, an electric element or a gas burner applies heat. A tankless unit can typically deliver 2 to 5 gallons of water per minute.
Are Tankless Hot Water Heaters Worth It?
The benefits far outweigh the cons of tankless water heaters. While tankless systems typically cost a little more than traditional water heaters, they can significantly increase your home’s comfort and energy savings.
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Tankless Water Heater?
One downside of tankless water heaters is that smaller models cannot always simultaneously supply sufficient hot water for multiple appliances in larger homes. However, larger households that often use more than one water appliance at a time can remedy this situation by installing two tankless heaters. If you are searching for the right water heater for your home, consider the following pros of tankless water heaters:
Comfortable Showers
While conserving water is important, there are some stressful days when you want to step into a steamy hot shower and relax for a while. Sometimes a few extra minutes under the hot water is just what you need to unwind, and a tankless water heater provides the hot water necessary for a comfortable shower.
A tankless heater is also beneficial for people who take a little longer than others to complete their typical showers. If you often rush to rinse the conditioner out of your hair before the water turns cold, a tankless system can enhance your morning routine. With a tankless heater, the hot water lasts until you’re ready to step out of the shower.
Convenience
A continuous hot water supply is beneficial for all areas and activities in your home. With a tankless water heater, you can run your dishwasher and immediately step into a hot shower. You can wash multiple loads of laundry in a row without waiting for the hot water supply to replenish between cycles. Adding a tankless heater to your home can increase convenience and help you complete everyday tasks faster.
Ability to Conserve Energy
Traditional water heaters store water in a tank and use energy to keep it hot until a household member needs it. Since a tankless water heater lacks a tank, it only consumes energy when you use hot water. A tankless heater heats water instantly when you use it and conserves energy when you don’t need it.
If your home uses 41 or fewer gallons of hot water per day, you can save approximately 24% to 34% more energy by replacing your tank water heater with a tankless model. Larger homes that consume approximately 86 gallons of hot water per day can save around 8% to 14% more energy with a tankless heater.
Excellent Return on Investment
Since tankless water heaters operate efficiently to conserve energy, they can also help you save money on your monthly bills. Installing a tankless water heater can provide an excellent return on investment because it is a long-lasting plumbing fixture that can reduce your energy costs throughout the year. It can also increase your home’s value, making it more appealing to homebuyers if you decide to sell your house in the future.
Tankless water heaters have a higher upfront cost than tank models, but tankless heaters can last 20 to 30 years with proper maintenance while traditional models typically need replacements after 10 to 15 years.
Additional Space
You can also enjoy more space in your home when you replace a traditional water heater with a tankless model. Traditional water heater tanks typically store between 30 and 80 water gallons, which takes up a lot of floor space and limits how much you can keep nearby. Tankless water heaters are significantly smaller than tank water heaters, allowing more storage space.
Easier Maintenance
Maintaining a tankless water heater is much easier than maintaining a traditional model. While traditional models require you to regularly check the anode rod and temperature release valve, simple annual maintenance tune-ups can help a tankless water heater operate efficiently for many years.
When you schedule an annual tune-up, an experienced technician inspects your system and removes sediment and mineral buildup. This simple precaution ensures your tankless heater operates as efficiently as possible and prevents damage so you can avoid future repairs.
Peace of Mind
Tankless water heaters are safer than tank water heaters. A traditional water heater and its connected pipes can explode if pressure accumulates behind the temperature release valve and the tank overheats. Tankless water heaters eliminate this risk, making them a safer option.
Install a Tankless Water Heater With Tom Drexler Plumbing, Air & Electric
The benefits of a tankless water heater make it an investment that can enhance your home’s comfort and reduce your energy bills. With a tankless water heater, you can access hot water anytime you need it and conserve energy when you aren’t using it.
Tom Drexler Plumbing provides high-quality tankless water heater installation, maintenance and repair services. Our licensed technicians offer unparalleled customer service to provide your home with the hot water solution it needs. Proper installation is essential to ensure your tankless water heater operates efficiently, and quality maintenance and repair services can help extend your tankless unit’s life span. Contact us to learn more, or schedule a service appointment to add a tankless water heater to your home.
