Over the past few decades, tankless water heaters have grown in popularity. If you’re like many other homeowners, you may wonder if it’s time to reclaim a few square feet of space and get rid of your water heater tank. While tankless heaters have many benefits, there are a few things to consider before making the switch.
We’re your water heater educators here at Champion AC & Plumbing. From installation to maintenance, we do it all to help Austin homeowners stay comfortable and feel at home. If you’re wondering whether or not you should go tankless, we can help.
Traditional vs. Tankless
Before purchasing a tankless water heater, it’s important to understand how it differs from traditional tanked units. Traditional heaters are large tanks that are filled with hot water that is heated by gas or electricity. When hot water is needed throughout the home, the tank is refilled and reheated to replace what was used.
Unlike tanked units, tankless heaters only heat water as needed. When you open a faucet or turn on a plumbing fixture, water travels through the heating elements in the tankless unit and is distributed to wherever it’s needed.
Advantages Of Tankless Heaters
If you’re interested in investing in a tankless unit, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before committing. Tankless water heaters have many benefits, but they don’t suit the needs of every household. Some of the benefits include the following:
- Energy efficient
- Longer lifespan
- Smaller footprint
- Ideal for smaller homes or families
- Hot water never runs out
- On-demand hot water
On average, tankless heaters are much more energy efficient than traditional heaters because they only heat water when it’s needed. For households that use less than 41 gallons of hot water each day, tankless heaters are most efficient. They can also last 5-10 years longer than traditional units.
Cons Of Ditching The Tank
Despite these incentives, these fixtures may not work for larger families that use a lot of hot water at once. If you use many plumbing fixtures at once or have many people taking showers around the same time, tankless heaters may struggle to heat the water required.
In this case, homeowners may want to install multiple tankless units. Additionally, tankless heaters are more costly to purchase initially than traditional fixtures.
Benefits Of Traditional Units
Before you ditch your traditional water heater altogether, there are a few good qualities to consider. After all, these units have been a home staple for decades, and they aren’t going away any time soon. If you’re interested in a traditional unit, consider these benefits:
- Lower purchase cost
- Cheaper maintenance and repairs
- Come in various sizes for large households
If you’re on a budget or don’t want to deal with more complicated maintenance, a storage tank heater might be a better option for you. Since they’ve been around for a long time, they’re much simpler to repair. You can even complete some maintenance tasks, such as tank flushes, on your own to save money!
Drawbacks Of Staying Traditional
Traditional units have some advantages, but they do have emerging drawbacks as the world modernizes. For example, these tanks aren’t energy efficient since water constantly has to be reheated to be ready for use at any time.
Additionally, if many people in a home need hot water at one time, the tank may run out of water, which results in a chilly situation. These tanks are also very large and bulky, taking up precious space inside your home.
Install Water Heater Units Today!
If you’re ready to replace water heater units inside your home or want to learn more about your options, Champion AC & Plumbing can help. We would love to help you assess the needs of your home and determine which heater will work best. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!