A water heater is an important investment for any homeowner. The water heater you choose to buy—if you choose a high-quality heater—should last you up to 10 years or even longer. That means that you’ll be living with the water heater you select for at least a decade of your life and the time you spend in your home.
The type of water heater you buy is a very important decision that will affect the next 10-plus years of your life. It is important to do thorough research and carefully consider the needs of your household before choosing a water heater that is the right fit for you and for your home.
There are two main types of water heaters: tank water heaters and tankless water heaters. Tank water heaters are the most common type of water heater. They hold somewhere between 30 to 50 gallons of water in a storage tank and continuously heat and store the water until it is needed. These traditional tank water heaters then deliver the hot water to different areas of your home via a pipe that runs out of the top of the heater’s storage tank. Tank water heaters can use either natural gas or electricity.
Tankless water heaters utilize burners to heat water as the water runs through a heat exchanger. These water heaters do not have storage tanks, because they heat the water quickly and deliver it directly to the faucets and different appliances that use hot water in your home. Tankless water heaters can also use either electricity or gas.
Keep reading to learn the pros and cons of tank versus tankless water heaters and who to trust to install either type of water heater in your home.
Energy Efficiency
Tankless water heaters win by a landslide when it comes to energy efficiency. Tankless water heaters are significantly more energy-efficient than tank water heaters.
For a household that uses up to 40 gallons of hot water every day, a tankless water heater is up to 35% more energy efficient than a tank water heater for that household.
Required Space
If you’re low on space in your home, a tankless water heater might be a great option for your household.
Because they do not include storage tanks, tankless water heaters are much smaller than tank water heaters and take up significantly less space in your home.
Water Output
Many homeowners who have tankless water heaters complain that their water heater is not able to heat enough water quickly enough for their household’s needs.
Because traditional tank water heaters constantly hold up to 50 gallons of hot water at a time, they are better equipped to deliver a large amount of hot water right away to different areas of your home.
If you have a lot of people in your household or use a substantial amount of hot water on a regular basis, a traditional tank water heater might be the best choice for your home.
Costs Over Time
The issue of whether tank or tankless water heaters are more cost-efficient is very complicated. The up-front costs of buying a tankless water heater and getting it installed in your home are much more expensive than for a traditional tank water heater.
However, your water utility bill should be much lower every month if you have a tankless water heater because tankless water heaters are significantly more energy-efficient than tank water heaters.
If your water heater needs maintenance or repairs, however, that maintenance will cost you much more if you have a tankless water heater than if you have a tank water heater because repairs are more complex for tankless water heaters.
While getting a tankless water heater can save you money in the long run, choosing between the difference of a tank vs. tankless water heater depends on how much money you are willing to invest in your water heater up-front and how much money you have on hand at any given time to spend on unexpected repairs or maintenance.
Water Heater Installation
If you are located in the Southern California area, give Accurate Leak Locators a call when it comes time for the installation of whichever type of water heater you choose for your home.
Tank vs Tankless water heater installation
Accurate Leak Locators and Plumbing is a professional plumbing company that brings almost 30 years of experience and expertise to their work. In addition to their specialty leak location and repair services, Accurate Leak Locators and Plumbing also offers a wide variety of plumbing services. One of these plumbing services is a water heater installation. Accurate Leak Locators and Plumbing’s water installation services are high-quality, affordable, and designed to help your water heater last in working order for as long as possible.
