Understanding The Concept Of Tankless Water Heaters And Their Pros And Cons

How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?

Tankless heaters, as the name suggests, do not have a separate water tank for heating the water continuously. Rather, the water is heated up by electricity or gas when a tap is turned on to supply warm water instantly; most of these appliances can deliver two to five gallons of hot water per minute, which is generally adequate for most households. Gas-fired heaters deliver more water than those heated by electricity, however, a single unit may not be able to meet the entire demand of the household if it is very high.

Advantages of Tankless Heaters

Since tankless water heaters heat the water only on demand, they save far more energy than conventional water heaters with storage tanks that are heated round-the-clock regardless of whether warm water is needed or not. Since these heaters heat water only when the faucet is turned on, you end up not wasting the energy to keep 40-50 gallons of water constantly hot. According to https://www.energy.gov, these water heaters can save 24-34% energy for households that need less than 41 gallons of hot water daily. These water heaters deliver a continuous supply of hot water, which is great if you want to fill a bathtub. Homeowners will also love the fact that tankless water heater systems are more compact and can be mounted on a wall without needing a dedicated space on the roof or in the basement.

Why You Need to Think Twice Before Purchasing a Tankless Water Heater

One of the main deterrents to buying tankless water heaters is their significantly higher initial cost. On average, the cost of a good tankless water heater will be more than double that of a conventional water heater. On top of that the installation of these water heaters, especially the gas-powered ones, need the expertise of a professional plumbing company in Stuart, which is an additional cost. Even though tankless heaters last longer, the steep price, which is usually more than $1,000 can make it beyond the reach of many people. The other issue is that these units are smaller and don’t produce enough hot water to deliver across multiple faucets at the same time. Buying a larger unit can be prohibitively expensive.

Conclusion 

Tankless water heaters make for a great buy for people who are conscious about conserving energy and don’t mind incurring the higher upfront cost to compensate for the longer lifespan. Even though tankless heaters powered by electricity are 98% efficient compared to the gas-powered models that are around 80% efficient, over the long run, the gas-powered models are cheaper to operate over their lifetimes. You can also free up valuable space in your house by installing a tankless water heater that is more compact.