The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters

Homeowners are always looking for new ways to make their homes more energy efficient and cost effective. That’s where tankless water heaters come in. They are more energy efficient than traditional water heaters, provide instant hot water and take up less space. Sounds like the perfect addition to your home, right? In this article we weigh up the pros and cons of tankless water heaters to help you decide.

Pros of a Tankless Water Heater

1. Instant hot water – the hot water flows through the faucet as soon as the cold water has been flushed out of the pipes. There is no need to wait for the water to warm up.
2. Tankless water heaters last twice as long as traditional water heaters. You will be saving money on the replacements as you won’t need to replace your water heater as often.
3. Monthly energy cost savings are higher – these savings add up and you could end up saving hundreds of dollars each year.
4. Space saver – there is no need for a storage tank – storage tanks tend to be bulky and take up space.
5. Traditional water heaters continuously heat up the water in the tank. This increases the energy costs. Tankless water heaters don’t continuously heat up the water and only do so when needed. This reduces energy use.
6. There are both gas and electrical options available – as a homeowner, you are able to choose the option that is most suitable and appropriate for the current infrastructure of your home. Depending on your choice and infrastructure, there may be no need to reroute gas lines or install electrical lines.

Cons of a Tankless Water Heater

1. Inconsistent water temperatures are a common complaint of many tankless water heater owners. These heaters are not able to send enough hot water to multiple faucets at the same time. The water temperature is dependent on how much hot water is being sent to the faucet being used. In addition, faucet heads have to be opened completely for the water heater to be turned on.
2. The initial cost of purchasing a tankless water heater is quite high and the cost of installation is far higher with tankless than with traditional water heaters.
3. Much like traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters have a limited supply of hot water. It is perfect for providing hot water to one faucet at a time. It has difficulty providing hot water to more than one faucet at a time.
4. Another additional cost is the price of extra equipment that is necessary to ensure that you get the best use out of your tankless water heater. An example of this would be a water softener.
5. Having a tankless water heater put in your home can save you a lot of money down the road. However, it takes a while before you start seeing the benefits of the lower monthly costs. The initial price of the water heater is high in comparison to the amount of money you will be saving on energy costs. There are other ways of reducing monthly energy costs. These options can save you money as well as avoid having to alter the infrastructure of your home as the initial price is a lot lower than that of a tankless water heater. Solar heating is an option as well as taking shorter showers and managing water usage with low-flow dishwasher and washing machine installations.
6. Annual maintenance is required to ensure that the warranty on your tankless water heater remains valid. All these costs add up and may be more than your monthly savings.

Call Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric at (561) 391-1048 and speak to one of our tankless water heater experts for more information on what type of system is suitable for your home.