Are you thinking of going tankless? Tankless water heaters offer a range of benefits, from reduced energy consumption to endless hot water. They also have several key drawbacks that make them less appealing to homeowners and families.
In this blog post, we’ll look at the pros and cons of switching from a tank heater to a tankless water heating system, to help you come to the right decision regarding your home’s hot water system.
The Pros of Going Tankless
To many people, tank heaters seem incredibly wasteful. After all, they keep your hot water in a large tank, often located in your closet or basement, using large amounts of energy to maintain its temperature day in and day out.
Wasteful they are; one of the biggest benefits of a tankless system is its significantly reduced energy consumption. Other key benefits of switching to tankless hot water include:
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Tankless water heaters don’t produce any greenhouse gases, making them a more environmentally friendly choice than a traditional tank heater.
- Reduced operating costs. Tankless water heaters use significantly less energy than tank heaters, since they only heat water when you need it and don’t heat your home’s water supply throughout the day.
- Reduced space footprint. Standard tank heaters are cumbersome and require a significant amount of space for installation. Tankless heaters are far smaller and can easily fit inside a bathroom cabinet or out of the way.
- A longer lifespan. Not only do tankless water heaters cost less to operate and save space; they also have a longer lifespan. Tankless water heaters typically last for 20 years, compared to the 10 to 12 years of a standard tank heater.
- Endless hot water. Unlike tank heaters, which can only hold a certain amount of hot water and run out when used heavily, tankless water heaters offer you an unlimited amount of hot water for longer baths and showers.
The Cons of Going Tankless
The benefits of tankless water heaters are numerous, and part of the reason that so many homeowners are going tankless. But despite its advantages, tankless water heating also has several downsides:
- Significantly more expensive. Tankless water heaters cost more to purchase and install than tank heater, often by a significant amount. This makes them an expensive investment for many homeowners.
- Limited hot water output. Unlike a tank heater, which can supply hot water to several faucets at once without any issues, a tankless hot water heater is hampered by an output limit that makes it less useful for large families.
- Increased energy demands. Although tankless water heating uses less energy as a whole than a tank heater system, it can require a large amount of energy when in use. This can place a strain on older homes’ electrical systems.
Should You Go Tankless?
While there are downsides to going tankless, the numerous benefits of tankless hot water significantly outweigh the downsides. For lower bills, endless hot water and a more environmentally friendly home, take your home tankless today.