Is a Tankless Water Heater Right for You? The Surprising Advantages of Making the Switch

When replacing a water heater, most people just opt to go with the same as they already have. That means just swapping out the old traditional or storage tank water heater for a new one of the same size. This makes sense in certain ways, as it makes the installation easier and also because traditional water heaters cost less. Nonetheless, it’s well worth considering switching to a tankless water heater due to the many benefits it will provide.

Energy Savings

One of the primary reasons why so many people are switching to tankless water heaters is their superior efficiency and lower energy costs. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand. That means there’s no energy wasted to keep a large volume of water constantly hot like there is with traditional water heaters.

With a traditional water heater, heat is continually lost through the tank. This issue is known as standby heat loss, and it results in the water heater needing to run occasionally even if you haven’t recently used any hot water.

Tankless units can also adjust the amount of energy they use at any given time based on the current hot water demand. A tankless unit will really need to run at full power when it needs to supply hot water to multiple fixtures at the same time.

The Department of Energy estimates that smaller households that use less than 41 gallons of water per day will save around 24%-34% with a tankless water heater. Larger households that use more than 80 gallons of hot water per day can still save around 8%-14%.

Unlimited Hot Water

Few things are more frustrating than going to take a shower in the morning only to find that someone used up all of the hot water or having the water go cold midway through your shower. This is another area where tankless water heaters have a major advantage, as they can provide unlimited hot water.

The only concern is that you won’t be able to use any hot water if your power is out. This is true even with gas units, as they still require electricity to light the gas burner. If you have a traditional water heater, you’ll still have some hot water when your power is out until you either use it up or the water in the tank finally goes cold.

Space Efficiency

Tankless water heaters are less than half the size of traditional units, making them an especially good choice for smaller homes, apartments, condos, etc. Instead of sitting on the floor, tankless units hang on the wall and are small enough to fit inside a closet. Some people even choose to install a tankless unit directly in their shower.

Low Maintenance

Traditional water heaters require regular maintenance to keep functioning effectively. This includes things like flushing the tank once or twice a year to remove the sediment buildup and having a plumber check the condition of the anode rod and replace it as needed. Tankless water heaters require very little maintenance in comparison. Mainly, you just need to descale the unit occasionally to remove any limescale buildup and mineral deposits.

Long Lifespan

One final thing to note about tankless water heaters is that they have longer life expectancies. The average lifespan for traditional water heaters is between eight and 12 years, whereas most tankless water heaters will last for at least 15-20 years. This is another reason why it can be worth paying the higher cost for a tankless unit, as its longer lifespan can save you some money down the road.

Is a Tankless Water Heater Worth It?

For most people, the tankless water heater benefits outweigh the higher upfront costs. However, this isn’t always the case, as tankless water heaters also have a few drawbacks. The biggest one is that you might have to wait longer before the water gets fully hot.

With a traditional water heater, it typically only takes 15-30 seconds from when you turn the water on until it’s fully hot. With a tankless unit, you’ll usually have to wait at least one to two minutes or sometimes longer. While this isn’t a major issue, it can be frustrating—especially in situations like when you need to quickly wash your hands.

Contact Us Today

When it comes to water heater installation, Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is the company to trust. We offer same-day services and will make sure you get a water heater that perfectly meets your needs. We install both traditional and tankless units and also offer professional water heater maintenance and repair services. To schedule a service call or water heater replacement consultation in Knoxville or the surrounding areas, call us today.