Tankless water heaters have become extremely popular in recent years because they lower energy bills and provide hot water on demand, but these energy-saving devices have a few drawbacks. Tankless water heaters are much more expensive than traditional water heaters and must be installed by experienced professionals, so do the benefits they provide warrant their higher price tags? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of installing a tankless water heater.
Pro: Lower Energy Bills
Traditional water heaters make sure that a supply of hot water is available at all times, and that consumes a lot of energy. Tankless water heaters only provide hot water when it is needed, which means they use almost no electricity or gas when they are not running. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, installing a tankless water heater lowers water-heating energy costs by up to 34%.
Con: Higher Up-Front Costs
The prices of tankless water heaters have become a lot more attractive in the last few years, but they still cost a lot more than traditional water heaters. You will be able to find traditional water heaters with 40-gallon tanks for less than $500 in a home improvement store, but a tankless unit capable of meeting the needs of a growing family will cost you several hundred dollars more. You will get that money back in energy savings over time, but your upfront costs will be higher.
Pro: Endless Hot Water
Running out of hot water will be a thing of the past if you install a tankless water heater. Energy-saving water heaters work on demand, and their heating elements keep working as long as a hot water faucet is turned on. While this sounds good, it does have a downside. Having endless hot water will encourage you and your family members to take longer showers, and that will eat into your energy savings.
Con: Complex Installation
Installing a traditional water heater is a fairly simple job for an experienced plumber, but getting a tankless unit up and running is a lot more complicated. Providing hot water on demand consumes a lot of energy, and that could drive up your installation costs. You may have to upgrade your electrical system or gas line to meet a tankless water heater’s energy needs if you live in an older home, and that could cost more than the unit.
Pro: Smaller Footprint
Eliminating the tank makes energy-saving water heaters a lot smaller than traditional units. When you hang a tankless water heater on the wall, you create several square feet of extra floor space for storage.
Con: Limited Flow Rate
There are limits to the amount of hot water that an energy-efficient water heater can provide at any given time. If you have a large family who all take showers at the same time, you may have to install several tankless water heaters to meet your needs.
The Water Heater Professionals
Our water heater professionals have more than 25 years of industry experience, and they can answer any questions you may have about traditional and tankless water heaters. If you are thinking about upgrading to an energy-saving water heater but have concerns, call the experts at Sargeant’s Plumbing & HVAC in Oceano, CA today.
