Tankless water heaters offer a new water heating solution for homeowners with unique advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional tank-style options. Is a tankless model suitable for your home? This article will cover the pros and cons of tankless water heaters to help you make the best decision.
Advantages
Some of the most common advantages of tankless water heaters include:
- Small size.
- High efficiency.
- Instant hot water.
You can save a lot of space and fit tankless units in more places than the conventional units with large, bulky tanks.
Tankless models heat the water on-demand, so you get instant and endless hot water. Conversely, tank-type models must constantly keep the water in the tank hot. Constant heating makes the unit run more often when it is replenishing water. It also must make up for any heat that escapes from the tank. If you use up all the water in the tank, you must wait for the unit to heat the water again, which can take a while.
In large part due to the instant heating method, tankless units work far more efficiently. Because they only heat water when you need it, you can often use less energy with a tankless model. This means you will save money on your energy bills. The most efficient units use condensing technology, but check the Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) to get the exact efficiency rating of the unit you’re interested in.
All of these benefits also lead to an impressive 20-year life span and lower maintenance. Tank-style models last about 10 – 12 years, and you will need to perform regular maintenance on the tank.
Disadvantages
Some of the most common disadvantages of tankless water heaters include:
- More complicated installation.
- Higher upfront cost.
- Inconsistent water temperature.
Installing a tankless unit is more complicated than a tank-style water heater. Because of this, you will need professional installation for a tankless unit, especially if the installation requires new water or gas lines.
Tankless units cost substantially more upfront than conventional models. The installation will add to the initial cost. While you should make up the cost in time due to the lower bills, this doesn’t always fit a homeowner’s immediate budget.
One problem you may experience with tankless models is inconsistent water temperature. While the water gets hot immediately, it can take some time to reach faucets and showers in the most remote areas of your home. You will also run into problems if you run more appliances at one time than your device can support.
A tankless water heater offers far more benefits than disadvantages for most homeowners. If you want to know more, talk to your local water heater installation professional, like those at Mr. Waterheater, to decide if tankless water heaters are right for your home.