Tankless Water Heaters: Pros and Cons

Tankless water heaters are becoming increasingly popular. These water heaters offer a great way to reduce the energy costs of your house and heat the water in an environment-friendly way. While your average water heater lasts 10 to 15 years, is it worth it to upgrade to a tankless water heater?

According to the Department of Energy U.S., the tankless water heaters cost more than heat pumps or storage water heaters. But they are more energy-efficient in the long run.

But what is a tankless water heater? And is it right for me?

What is a Tankless Water Heater?

Tankless water heaters provide hot water as it’s needed. In contrast to storage water heaters, these heaters minimize energy losses, which saves you money. Tankless water heaters don’t require a storage tank. Instead, they heat the water directly.

Tankless water heaters are also known as instantaneous or demand-type water heaters.

Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters

Take a look at the following pros and cons to find out whether a tankless water heater is right for you or not.

Pros:

• Instant Hot Water: Tankless water heaters instantly provide an unending stream of hot water once all cold water in the pipes is out of the faucet. Unlike storage heaters, tankless heaters don’t take too long to heat the water.
• Longer Lifespan: Tankless heaters have longer lifespans. While a standard water heater might last up to a decade, a tankless heater lasts twice as long.
• Space Savings: Tankless heaters are not bulky. These heaters are usually mounted on a wall, and they don’t take too much space. If your house is small, the space savings is a great benefit for you.
• No Standby Loss: The best thing about tankless heaters is that they eliminate the standby loss. The traditional units keep on adding energy costs as they reheat water repeatedly. But that is not the case with tankless heaters.
• Lower Monthly Costs: Tankless water heaters are 22% more efficient as compared to the standard models. With a tankless heater, you can save hundreds of dollars every year.

Cons:

• Limited Water Flow: Storage water heaters providing hot water to multiple fixtures at the same time. However, a tankless heater provides a steady but limited stream of hot water. If you’re running a washing machine or dishwasher and taking a shower simultaneously, a tankless water heater won’t be able to keep up.
• Higher Initial Cost and Installation Expenses: Since tankless water heaters have a longer lifespan, they’re more expensive. An average traditional model can cost about $500, whereas the cheapest tankless water heater costs around $1,000. Also, installing a tankless model can cost $150 to $700. Furthermore, tankless heaters mostly require a longer gas line.
• Hard Water isn’t Good: One major downside of tankless water heaters is that they can get damaged from hard water. The warranty does not cover this damage. So, you’ll need a water softener before installing a tankless water heater.

It’s up to you whether you want to install a tankless water heater or not. After reading these pros and cons, it’ll be easier to decide if a tankless water heater will be right for you. But if you’re still not sure, consult a plumbing professional now.

At Kwik Plumbers, we offer unparalleled water heater services, which includes everything from repair and maintenance to new water heater installation and replacement. For exceptional water heater services, call 561-627-2244 or fill out a contact form today.