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Tank vs. tankless water heater, benefits and drawbacks of both types of water heater
Water heaters are a long-term investment, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons of the tank and tankless water heater before you make a decision. This article provides comprehensive information about the two water heaters and their advantages. Continue reading to find out more.
Tankless Water Heaters
- According to consumer reports, tankless water heaters are 22% more energy-efficient as compared to traditional water heaters.
Tankless water heaters do not have a tank for storage of hot water instead they produce hot water on-demand. These water heaters are not as common as tank-style water heaters.
Advantages Of Tankless Water Heater
Let’s look at some of the benefits of tankless water heaters.
Lifespan
- Tankless water heaters are durable. Once installed they will last as long as up to 20 years or longer. Moreover, their parts are easily available and can be replaced with convenience. Depending on the model, the replacement parts for tank water heaters can be difficult to find.
Size
- One of the best things about tank water heaters is their compact size. They occupy less space and can fit easily even in a small space. If you do not have a large space, installing a tankless water heater is an ideal option.
Energy-Efficiency
- Tankless water heaters are an energy-efficient appliance. This is because of their ability to heat water only on demand. They help reduce heat loss, lower energy bills and allow you to save money.
Tankless water heaters prevent standby heat loss by only heating water when it’s needed. This gives them an advantage over traditional water heaters thereby saving up to 50% cost on energy bills.
Safety
Another advantage of tankless water heaters is that they are much safer than regular water heaters. This is because they do not have a tank. The absence of a tank eliminates the risk of overheating and explosion.
Consistent Supply Of Hot Water
- The traditional water heaters can store a specific amount of water in their tanks, therefore, water runs low after certain uses. Tankless water heaters on the other hand have a maximum flow rate and heat a certain amount of water at one time.
As long as the water usage is below the maximum flow rate, you will get a continuous supply of hot water. These water heaters work on demand and keep the water equally hot for a 10-hour or a 10-minute shower.
Disadvantages Of Tankless Water Heater
Here are some drawbacks of tankless water heaters.
Do Not Support Simultaneous Usage
- A tankless water heater is not equipped to heat several gallons of water at once. If hot water is being used in two different bathrooms at one time, a tankless unit will fail to keep up the steady supply of hot water.
They are perfect for a single person taking a shower or running the dishwasher. But unlike tank-style water heaters, tankless units cannot supply hot water to multiple outlets at the same time.
May Require Additional Equipment
- For a tankless water heater to operate smoothly without breaking down, the installation of a water softener is usually necessary. The bulky water softener and the necessary bags of salt will take up additional space.
This invalidates the space-saving benefit associated with the tankless unit. The whole setup ends up taking more space than the traditional water heater.
Rerouting Gas Lines
- Tankless water heaters require special wiring and the installation of a new vent pipe to handle the increased load. Sometimes rerouting of the gas line is also needed. This non-traditional setup of tankless water heaters makes the installation more expensive.
If you are all set for installing a water heater or require water heater repair services call us at 832-772-5501. Ensure a continuous supply of hot water by getting in touch with our professionals at Proline Plumbing. We are located in Houston, Texas.