At first glance, a tankless water heater might not make much sense. After all, don't you need a tank to hold and heat the water for your house? Not exactly!
A normal water heater uses a large tank where the water is always kept at a certain temperature using a combination of sensors and heaters. A tankless water heater forgoes the storage option, and immediately heats water in a much smaller tank, using faster heaters that bring it to the right temperature. Why would you want to consider a tankless water heater in your home? Here are just a few of the benefits.
Energy Savings
It takes a lot of energy to keep a big tank of water heated throughout the day. Since no one is constantly using this hot water, much of that energy is completely wasted. That's not good for the environment or your energy bill. A tankless water heater only heats on demand, when you are using hot water. It may take a few more seconds to heat up, but it uses far less energy. As a result, tankless water heaters almost always significantly reduce heating bills for your house. It's a great way to save!
Better Lifespan and Fewer Repairs
When your heater doesn't have to constantly hold and heat water, there's a lot less that can go wrong. As a result, tankless water heaters tend to need fewer repairs than water tanks, which means fewer long-term costs for you. Since the heater is only working when you need it to, it also has a longer lifespan than the tank versions. Tankless heaters may last for up to twice as long without needing a replacement!
Potential Rebates
It's always a good idea to look in your area for any rebates or discounts that you may qualify for when buying a tankless water heater. Tankless heaters and installation are usually a little more expensive than a tank heater, but you can often mitigate this initial cost if you can find any local deals. Power companies, local governments, and other organizations may want to promote energy savings in your area, which can lead to a variety of additional benefits when picking a qualifying tankless heater.
You Don't Run Out of Hot Water in the Same Way
Tankless water heaters do have their limits. They may not be suitable for large families where multiple different tasks – showers, washing machines, dishwashers, etc. – all need hot water at once. However, they are less limited in other ways: Tankless water heaters don't easily run out of hot water for specific tasks. That means, as long as everyone takes their turn, people are unlikely to run out of hot water like they would with a tank heater.
Do you have other questions about hot water in your home? Are you worried about making the switch to a tankless water heater, or not sure how it would affect your routine? Let us know! Contact Amanda Plumbing and we can help you figure out if a tankless heater is right for you, and what it would cost to make the switch in your home.