While you may not give it much thought, your daily life relies on your home’s water heater working efficiently. While most people are familiar with the traditional storage tank water heater, many aren’t yet fully aware of the tankless water heater. It’s time to discover the differences between the two so you can make a better-informed decision when it comes to replacing your home’s water heater.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters are a newer option that is comprised of a system that heats water on demand. Whenever you turn on the hot side of your faucet, water will flow through the water heater. This is a small box that sits on the wall with a heating element or burner inside, depending on the type of fuel that it uses. As water passes through the unit, it will be heated to your desired temperature setting. Then, it will be piped directly to your hot faucet.
Traditional Water Heaters
Traditional water heaters are easy to spot thanks to their large cylindrical tanks. These systems bring in water, heat it, and hold the hot water until you’re ready to use it. This tank-style water heater will continually use energy to heat the water in its tank to ensure it stays at your desired temperature.
Upfront Cost
When comparing both tankless and traditional water heaters solely by cost, the latter wins. A tankless water heater will typically more than what a traditional water heater will cost. However, you shouldn’t just take their upfront prices as your sole consideration when you choose a water heater for your home.
Space
The space requirements of a tank-style water heater are much greater than those of a tankless water heater. A traditional style will have a large tank that is typically four to five feet high and about a foot or more in diameter. On the other hand, a tankless water heater is comprised of a small metal box that can be mounted directly to a wall. This allows it to sit out of the way, unlike a traditional water heater.
Hot Water
While both units can produce hot water for your home, it’s important to consider capacities. A traditional water heater will have a limited capacity of hot water it can deliver at any one point in time. While a tankless style water heater does have a restricted gallons per minute capacity, it can consistently deliver on-demand hot water. With a tank water heater, you’ll have to wait at least 30 minutes to 1 hour for the entire tank to get up to the appropriate temperature.
Energy Efficiency
Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient due to the way they operate. They only use energy whenever they’re heating the water that you need. With a tank water heater, it’s constantly using energy to keep the water in its storage tank at your desired temperature.
Lifespan
Traditional and tankless water heaters have different lifespans. A traditional tank water heater will have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years with proper maintenance. On the other hand, a tankless water heater can last anywhere between 15 and 20 years with proper maintenance. This lifespan is almost double that of the traditional water heater.
Maintenance
Both water heaters are going to require regular maintenance service to stay in tip-top condition. Plumbing experts do recommend getting both water heaters flushed at least once a year. If you live in a region of the country that has hard water, you’ll want to consider getting professional flushing service more often.
Installation
Because tank water heaters have been around for decades, almost any plumber you hire can easily install one for your home. Depending on the type of fuel that you want to use, they may need to plumb in gas lines. With a tankless water heater being a new option, not all plumbers will install them. If you decide to use gas as your primary source of fuel, a plumbing expert will have to install specialized gas lines that can provide more fuel per second than with a traditional water heater.
Trustworthy Water Heater Service
Smooth Plumbing provides trustworthy water heater service for Stafford, VA, and the surrounding communities. We will be more than happy to assist you with all your leak detection, water pressure, plumbing fixtures, gas lines, sewer, main water lines, and other plumbing needs. Contact our office staff today to schedule your next service appointment.
