For a moment there, it seemed like tankless water heaters were the undisputed wave of the future. They were what everyone was getting when it was time to replace their water heater systems. But is a tankless system always an upgrade from a tank water heater? What are the pros? Are there cons, too? Let’s dig into the facts.
Some Quick Terminology
There are a few different terms that people use to refer to these different water heating options, so let’s be clear what we’re talking about. A tank water heater, also called a storage water heater, keeps a large amount of water at a consistently high temperature at all times. How much is a large amount? Tanks for these systems usually hold somewhere between twenty and eighty gallons.
A tankless water heater, as implied, does not have this tank. The other term used for it is an “on-demand” water heater. That’s because, instead of keeping a steady supply of hot water by actually having access to a large amount at once, it creates the hot water by heating, on demand, just the water that currently flows through your hot water pipes.
Tankless Water Heater Benefits
If you’ve got an old tank-style water heater that will soon need replacing, are the benefits of a tankless system worth your while? Here are some of the items we would put in the “pros” column for an on-demand water heater.
- Efficiency: Whether you’re thinking about your monthly utility bills or you’re thinking about your family’s impact on the environment, there can be no doubt that a tankless system is the more efficient option. There is no energy being wasted keeping a large amount of water hot when you might not even need any for many hours.
- Consistency: With an on-demand system, there is no “running out” of hot water. It will always keep flowing, generally at a rate of 2-5 gallons per minute depending on the specific model. You’ll never need to wait half an hour to take a hot shower because someone else took too long in theirs!
- Longevity: While a traditional tank water heater might last around twelve years (and sometimes more like eight) a tankless system is less vulnerable to threats like corrosion than a tank is. That means this type of water heater might last up to twenty years!
Tankless Water Heater Drawbacks
- Up-Front Cost: A tankless system is almost always at least a bit more expensive than a tank water heater sized for the same household. There may also be some additional cost to installation if you require modifications to your water lines in order to make switching the system type possible.
- Quantity: As we said, you’ll never get to a point when there’s no hot water left. But you’ll also never be able to access as much hot water at a time. So if you often find yourself drawing a bath while someone showers and a load of laundry is in the wash, you might be exceeding the 2-5 gallons per minute the tankless system can provide.
Which system is right for you? We’d love to discuss your options for a tank or tankless water heater in Glenview, IL and help you find the solution you’ll be happiest with for the long term.
For expert water heater installation, contact Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc. Our knowledgeable plumbers serve the North Shore and Northwest Chicago suburbs. Rely on Reliance!