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Professionals near you talk about the advantages and disadvantages of a tankless water heater
According to consumer reports, tankless water heaters are 22% more energy-efficient as compared to traditional water heaters. However, water heaters are a long-term investment so it is important to weigh the pros and cons before you make a decision. This article provides comprehensive information about the pros and cons of a tankless water heater.
Pros Of A Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters can play an important role in creating a more energy-efficient home. Here are the advantages of installing a tankless water heater.
Energy And Cost Savings
- Tankless water heaters operate on demand and allow you to save energy and cost. Traditional water heaters continuously heat and reheat the water to maintain a hot water supply round the clock. Unlike traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters generate warm water instantly using high-power gas burners and use less energy overall.
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.
Unlimited 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.
Take Up Less Space
- Tankless water heaters provide an immense benefit to those with limited space in their homes. Unlike tank-style water heaters, tankless heaters are mounted to the wall as a result they take up significantly less physical space.
A tank-style water heater is about 50 to 60 inches tall on average with a diameter of 20 inches and takes up significant floor space. While an average tankless unit is just 27 inches tall and 18 inches wide. This allows them to fit in most closets.
Cons Of A Tankless Water Heater
Investing in a water heater is an important decision so it is important to understand all the facts before making up your mind. Read the cons of a tankless water heater to make a well-informed decision.
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.
Limited Hot Water Supply
- 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.
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.