Tankless water heaters are increasingly becoming popular because they heat and supply water in real-time. If you’re considering getting a tankless water heater, many sources will tell you that you’re making the energy-efficient choice. However, it’s important to look at both the pros and cons before you make such a large purchase. To help you out, the pros at OnTime Service have prepared a guide on the pros and cons of a tankless water heater!
What is A Tankless Water Heater?
Before we get into the details, here is a quick explanation on what a tankless water heater actually is. A tankless water heater provides water as needed. They are different from standard storage water heaters because storage water heaters store water and heat it continually, whereas tankless water heaters provide heated water on-demand. When you turn on the hot water, cold water reaches the tankless water heater where it is heated by a gas burner or an electrical component.
Pros and Cons of a Tankless Water Heater
Pro: Energy-Efficient Option
One of the pros of a tankless water heater is that it is a significantly energy-efficient option. With storage water heaters, there is a lot of energy loss that goes into continually heating the water. With a tankless water heater on the other hand, you get energy savings up to 34% compared to a standard model. In addition, if you use a lot of water, you can see energy savings of up to 14%. According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 50% of energy if you install a tankless water heater on every hot water outlet. If you’re looking to save money and save the environment, we recommend a tankless water heater.
Con: High Initial Cost
While tankless water heaters are energy-efficient, they tend to have a higher retail price than a standard storage water heater. They also have high installation costs, which means the initial cost will outweigh the savings for a period of time.
Pro: Long Lasting
Basic tank water heaters can generally last between 10-15 years. However, tankless water heaters can last up to 20 years or longer. This 5 to 10-year difference can keep the hassle of replacing your water heater off your mind for a while.
Con: Limited Water Output
While you get hot water supplied on-demand, tankless water heaters are significantly limited in the amount of hot water they can supply at a time. If you have a lot of people or several hot water appliances attached to the water heater, you will notice your tankless water heater getting overburdened quickly.
Pro: Take Up Less Space
Tankless water heaters take up less space and can be hooked up in your utility or laundry room. They take up about half the space a standard tank heater would take.
