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Having a water heater is a necessity for every home, especially those that are found in cold-climate countries. This is what enables a relaxing and revitalizing feeling every time you take a bath or perhaps when wanting to take a dip in your tub. Whichever the case is, it still will cost you a lot of money in maintaining a water heater.
Fortunately, there are already tankless water heaters that are more cost-efficient, durable, and effective. But then again, we need to compare them to the traditional tank heaters that have been around for quite some time. It's through this that we'll know every detail between these two water heaters, and know if it's really time to get a new one.
What is a tankless water heater?
Tankless water heaters are becoming more popular these days because they are said to be 22% more energy efficient than its traditional heater counterpart. Its high-powered burners are the ones that heat the water that runs through the heat exchanger. It then delivers the heated water directly to your faucet or shower without having to wait for a few minutes, unlike the traditional water heaters.
What is a traditional tank heater?
Then there are the traditional tank heaters. These are composed of an insulated tank and a pipe that is connected to various destinations such as bathrooms, kitchens, and sinks. It also has its own pressure release valve that opens up if the pressure and temperature exceed its maximum tolerance.
Its tank can hold up to 50 gallons of water and it heats it up even if you need it. When you turn on your faucet's hot knob, the heated stored water then flows out of the tank and heads straight into the destination. These are usually powered by gas. However, newer models are already running on electricity.
Top Reasons Why Tankless Water Heaters are a Must Have
1. Economical
Traditional water heaters' popularity is declining these days as more and more people are starting to realize that it's costing them more in the long run. Even though tankless tank heaters are more expensive than the traditional ones, the maintenance cost and energy usage are still far lesser.
This is the reason why homeowners will save money through time. According to recent studies, tankless water heaters are 25% to 35% more energy-efficient than the traditional heaters because of its more efficient heating process. Gas-fired tankless heaters are said to help homeowners save up to $100 yearly, while electric tankless heaters can save up to $45 per year.
2. Durability
Another cool thing about these tankless water heaters is that they're more durable than the storage tank heaters. This is because it doesn't store water in a container. Instead, the water just flows through the heat exchanger and heads right straight into its destination. It's because of this that there is less wear-and-tear on the part of the container.
Tank water heaters have an average service life of 10 to 15 years, which for some, is already quite a long time. But that's nothing compared to the 20 to 30 years service life of tankless water heaters.
3. Space Saver
The list of the benefits of having a tankless water heater can go on and on. However, one of the most outspoken advantages it has is its space-saving design. In a world where urbanization is becoming the trend, it makes perfect sense for homeowners to make use of all spaces in their houses.
This means that even tight corners must be used up. Well, traditional tank heaters won't fit in those cramped up places – but tankless water heaters can! What's even better is that they can be installed on your outside walls.
4. Hot Water Whenever and Wherever
This is perhaps the thing that seals the deal for our comparison between tankless heaters and the tank ones. You might have experienced having to wait 30 seconds for even a few minutes just for your shower to heat up. Well, you don't have to experience that inconvenience if you've got a tankless water system. It’s because these deliver to you hot water instantly.
You won’t even have to wait for 10 seconds. As soon as you turn the hot water knob, the water heater simultaneously lets the water pass through its heat exchanger which in turn heats it instantly when it passes through. Take note that these heaters can deliver up to 3 gallons per minute.
Minor Drawbacks of Tankless Water Heaters
Of course, every product has its own drawbacks no matter how efficient it is. And tankless water heaters aren’t exempted from that fact. The only thing that makes these different from other products is that it only has very few and minor drawbacks which are then covered up through time. Here are some of them:
1. Expensive Price
Tankless water heaters are more expensive than the traditional tank heaters. That is to be expected knowing that these are more intricate and consists of a more advanced technology. You'll find a tank water heater that costs around $500 to $900 at most. On the other hand, the cheapest tankless water heater can cost you $2,000.
Going for the high-end models would drill a hole on your pocket as they're worth over $4,500. But in the long run, a number of energy costs you save will add up to you saving more. So it's not really a big deal because you can still break even with your purchasing and installation expenses.
2. Costly Installation
Installing a unit will also cost you a fortune, especially if you’re going to retrofit a tankless heater into a traditional one. If you’re planning to install a unit, it’s better if you completely remove the old one so that it will only cost you $1,500 to $2,000. Surely, that’s a big price to pay but you’ll end up spending more if you prefer to retrofit it over an existing traditional heater.
Final Thoughts
With all of these being said, you’ll clearly see that it’s totally worth it to buy a tankless water heater even if it means spending more in the purchasing and installation. The times have changed and with it, technology improves for better efficiency. This is why we need to adapt. And it is in that adapting process that we need to also be updated with the latest home improvement technologies, of which includes tankless water heaters.
