Tankless water heaters have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their energy-efficient and space-saving design. However, they may not be the right choice for everyone. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of tankless water heaters to help you make an informed decision about whether or not to get one.
Pros of Getting A Tankless Water Heater
1. Energy-Efficient
Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than the traditional storage tank type. Tankless water heaters produce hot water instantly as you need it and only use the energy required to get the job done. They don’t have to maintain a large amount of hot water in storage, so they don’t waste energy keeping your home warm. If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly way to heat your home, this is it.
2. Space-Saving
The first and most obvious benefit of a tankless water heater is that it’s smaller than conventional models. This means you can install them in tight spaces, like under your sink or behind the toilet. It also makes for easier installation and less costly repairs, since there’s no need to hire an expensive plumber to snake through narrow pipes when something goes wrong with these units.
The second reason why installing a tankless hot water system is beneficial for homeowners with limited space is because they’re often installed on an exterior wall–which means you don’t have to worry about taking up any extra room inside your home!
3. Endless Hot Water
It’s no surprise that a tankless water heater will provide endless hot water. A traditional tank heater heats up a large amount of water at once, which means you can only use it when you have enough time to wait for the water to heat up or when you’re taking long showers. With a tankless model, there are no limitations on how much time it takes for your shower or sink faucet to get hot–the unit heats up as much as needed on demand!
4. Eliminates Standing Water
A traditional tank heater fills with cold water and heats it up before distributing the warm water to your home. This means that you have to wait for the entire tank to fill up before you can use any of the hot water in your home. With a tankless model, there is no need for standing water because it heats the water on demand as needed.
5. Longer Lifespan
Tankless water heaters have a longer lifespan than traditional models. Because they don’t store energy, they don’t have to worry about corrosion or rusting. Tankless heaters can therefore survive for 20 years or longer with adequate maintenance. In contrast, conventional water heaters often need to be replaced after 10 to 15 years.
6. Higher Upfront Cost
A tankless water heater is more expensive to install than a traditional water heater. However, the long-term energy savings can offset this initial cost. If you are planning on staying in your home for many years and want to save money on your utility bills, then it may be worth investing in one of these units.
7. Limited Flow Rate
You may not be able to provide enough hot water for large households with multiple appliances running at once. This is because the flow rate of a tankless water heater is limited and cannot be increased. If you have a large family, this could mean that some members will not have enough hot water available when they need it most.
8. Requires Professional Installation
A tankless water heater requires professional installation, which can be complex and expensive. If you’re not comfortable with doing the work yourself, you’ll need to hire a plumber or other contractor to do it for you. Furthermore, some models are designed for use in specific types of homes (for example, they may require gas line hookups). If your home doesn’t meet these requirements or if it has been built recently enough that its plumbing doesn’t accommodate older-style gas lines or vents (which are often used by tankless heaters), then installing a tankless heater might not be possible at all.
9. Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance requirements for a tankless water heater are much less than those of a traditional model. While you’ll still need to descale and flush the system on occasion, it’s not as frequent as with other types of water heaters.
The main reason for this is that there isn’t any standing water in your tankless unit; instead, it heats up only when you turn on the hot water faucet or showerhead so there’s nothing sitting around waiting to grow bacteria or clog up pipes.
10. Endless Hot Water
With a traditional tank-type heater, if you have multiple people in your home taking showers or doing dishes at once, you may have to wait for the hot water to come through before anyone else can take their shower or do their dishes. With a tankless model, everyone gets hot water right away because the unit uses only what it needs at that moment and creates more when needed.
Cons of Getting A Tankless Water Heater
1. Upfront Cost
The upfront cost of a tankless water heater is higher than that of a traditional water heater. This can be a barrier for some homeowners, especially those on a tight budget.
However, there are ways to offset some of these costs by taking advantage of rebates and tax credits from your local utility company and government agencies like the IRS (the federal income tax credit).
2. Installation Complexity
Tankless water heaters are more difficult to install than traditional tank models. There are many different types of tankless models, so it’s important to consider your options before making a purchase. Some models can be installed on the wall or ceiling while others are designed to sit on the floor. Installation can be complicated by the fact that some types of tankless models require two separate lines for hot and cold water. The installation process can also be expensive as it requires additional parts, such as an expansion tank, and labor costs may be higher than with traditional models.
3. Maintenance
The maintenance of a tankless water heater is more involved than that of a conventional tanked one. You’ll have to flush the system regularly to remove mineral buildup and replace the filter every six months or so. This can be done by an HVAC professional, but if you’re handy with tools and want to save some money, there are YouTube videos showing how it’s done (and even some tutorials on how to install them yourself).
4. Inconsistent Water Temperature
The main drawback of a tankless water heater is that it can sometimes produce inconsistent water temperatures. This is because the heaters heat the water as it flows through the system, rather than storing hot water in a tank and slowly releasing it into your home. If you have a high flow rate, or if there’s too much demand on your system (such as several people showering at once), then the heater may not be able to keep up with all of that extra demand for hot water.
5. High Installation Costs
The installation of a tankless water heater can be expensive, especially if you don’t have the right tools and knowledge. The average cost to install a tankless water heater is $1,000-$1,500, but it can cost up to $2,000 depending on where you live and how difficult it is for your plumber to access certain areas in your home.
The installation process involves cutting into walls or floors so that they can get access to all parts of your plumbing system; this means that there will be more damage caused by drilling holes than with traditional heaters that simply sit on top of existing pipes (as opposed to being inserted inside them).
6. Limited Flow Rate
The flow rate of a tankless water heater is limited and cannot be increased. This means that it may not be able to provide enough hot water for large households with multiple appliances running at once. If you have a large family or want to use your tankless heater in an area where there are many people living in close proximity, this could be an issue for you.
In addition, if you’re looking for a way to save money on your energy bills by switching from electric resistance heaters (like electric baseboards) or propane/natural gas furnaces/boilers over to electric tankless water heaters instead–and then find yourself unable to take advantage of this option because of their limited flow rate–you’ll need another solution that provides more hot water per minute than what these models offer
7. Requires Professional Installation
A tankless water heater requires professional installation, which can be complex and expensive. If you don’t know how to install one yourself or don’t want to pay for someone else’s services, it may be best to hire a plumber or other contractor who does this type of work on a regular basis (and knows what they’re doing).
8. Sizing Considerations
Tankless water heaters must be sized correctly for your home. If the unit is too small, it won’t be able to provide enough hot water for your needs. If the unit is too large, it will be an inefficient use of energy and money.
- To ensure that you get a tankless heater that’s right for your home:
- Measure how much hot water you use on average per day (in gallons).
- Find out what type of fuel source(s) are available at your home (gas or electric).
- Determine whether there are any restrictions on installing a tankless heater in your area (like zoning laws).
9. Venting Considerations
The venting requirements for a tankless water heater vary depending on the type of unit and fuel source. For example, gas-fired units must be vented through a chimney while electric units can be vented through an existing wall or ceiling.
Because these devices are installed outside your home’s walls, they may be difficult to access without proper planning.
10. Environmental Impact
A tankless water heater takes up less space than an equivalent-sized conventional tank model because its components are closer together, but there is still significant installation effort involved in getting everything connected properly so that gas and electricity lines can reach the unit without having to run pipes through walls or ceilings. The smaller size also means that heat loss is greater than with larger units, which increases energy costs and contributes significantly to global warming if fossil fuels are used instead of other renewable sources such as solar or wind power.
Let Us Help You
Choosing whether to get a tankless water heater or not depends on your specific needs and preferences. While tankless water heaters have several benefits such as energy efficiency and space-saving, they also have some drawbacks such as higher upfront costs and potential limitations in hot water supply.
If you’re considering getting a tankless water heater, it’s important to research and understand the pros and cons thoroughly. Additionally, you should consult with a professional water heater installation service like Home Service Solutions to evaluate your home’s specific needs and determine if a tankless water heater is the right choice for you.
At Home Service Solutions, we offer reliable and efficient water heater installation services, including tankless water heaters. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and learn more about your options for water heating.
