You’re taking a hot shower, shampoo in your hair (and your eyes), when suddenly the water begins to turn colder and colder. You rush to rinse as the water turns ice-cold, and finally step out of the shower shaking and shivering. Your water heater has run out of hot water – again.
Tired of playing shower roulette? Perhaps it’s time to consider upgrading to a tankless water heater – one that saves energy, money, and delivers an endless supply of warm or hot water whenever you need it.
What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
As the name suggests, a tankless water heater does not have a traditional storage tank. Instead, cold water travels through the tankless unit and is heated using gas or electricity, providing a hot water supply that lasts until the tap is turn off. They are also known as instantaneous or on-demand water heaters.
Pros
- More energy efficient than traditional tank-style water heaters. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tankless water heaters are 24 to 34 percent more energy-efficient than storage tank water heaters when using around 41 gallons of water per day. In households who use double that amount, they are 8 to 14 percent more efficient, which is still a significant improvement.
- Tankless water heaters save on utility costs. Since they use less energy, they cost less to operate, which translates into water and gas or electrical savings.
- They take up less space allowing you to free up space in your home. What’s more, their small footprint means they can installed just about anywhere.
- Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand. While there are some limitations, in theory, a tankless water heater could let you take a hot shower for as long as you’d like without ever running out of hot water.
- Tankless water heaters can last 20 years or longer whereas tank-style units typically last anywhere from 8 to 15 years.
Cons
- A tankless water heater can only heat so much water at a given time. So, if you run the dishwasher, washing machine, and shower at the same time, the temperature of the water may fluctuate as the heater tries to provide for all three locations at once. It is possible to work around this issue by installing more than one unit or using less hot water.
- Tankless water heaters (even gas models) require electricity to operate. If the power goes out, so does your supply of hot water.
- They have a higher up-front cost than tank-style models (for both the unit and installation). However, keep in mind that a tankless water heater—with its longer lifespan and energy savings—will pay for itself in just a few years.
If you’re looking for a way to save money long-term and improve your home’s energy efficiency, all while enjoying an endless supply of hot water, a tankless water heater will meet all your needs and more. Contact Anthony’s Plumbing today to for more information and a new system proposal.
