Are Tankless Water Heaters Worth the Investment?
We have a rundown of the pros and cons to installing a tankless water heater over a traditional water heater tank, and what hot water installation you may be looking for instead.
The “Instant Hot Water” Myth
About 80% of the time when we hear people want a tankless water heater one of the top reasons they tell us is because they associate the tankless technology with instant hot water. If this is your reasoning, you’ll be pretty disappointed with your tankless water heater results.
This is because no matter what kind of heater you decide to install in your home, instant water cannot be possible due to the fact that water in your pipes cools down when not in use.
So yes, a tankless heater can give you hot water, but not any faster than a water heater that’s sitting with a full tank of hot water. What really provides instant hot water is having a recirculating water line.
A recirculating water line is the true winner when it comes to instant hot water when you turn your faucet on. That’s because installing this type of water line means that no matter where in your house you are, hot water is being circulated through the pipes on a regular basis, day and night, to make sure when you need the hot water it is there for you.
The “Forever Hot Water” Myth
For those who aren’t concerned about a tankless heater can’t bring hot water on demand, they may still be excited to find a solution that never runs out of hot water.
This can also be a challenge if those are the expectations. While a tankless heater can continually heat water as you use it, many times the amount it creates cannot keep up with a multi-functioning home as well as a traditional tank can.
So if you’re trying to shower in multiple bathrooms, and run a dishwasher at the same time, you may be forcing all those areas to share a single output of hot water that is too much of a demand for your tankless heater. Whereas a traditional heater is already full of 50 or 80 gallons of hot water, and can supply those areas at the same time.
But if you need multiple showers in a row, or want to shower after doing a laundry all morning, then the tankless water heater could be your new best friend.
The Costs of a Water Heater
The different cost of a tankless hot water heater can be hard to compare, but here are some basics… First, the price of purchasing and installing a tankless water heater may cost you about 3X more than a traditional water heater. While many people think this cost will pay off in the long run, it will take you years to recoup that cost, and some people may move from their homes before it even happens. It is not a completely sunk cost, but it’s important to do the research on what it will cost for you before you make the decision.
Some people are willing to absorb the extra cost knowing other positive factors about a tankless water heater. They are more environmentally friendly, they have longer life spans, and they take up less space in your home. While these don’t necessarily negate the extra price you pay for them, if they are important factors to you it may be worth the cost.
For any water heater questions, including water tank inspections, repairs or replacements call us any time. We have appointments available day or night, and weekends too.
