Tankless Water Heaters Pros & Cons
Tankless Water Heaters are becoming more and more popular. New homes in many areas are now including Tankless Water Heaters as part of the standard installation. However, there is still a lot of confusion about how Tankless Water Heaters work and the benefits of them.
What is a Tankless Water Heater?
The easiest way to describe a Tankless Water Heater is known as “On-Demand” hot water. Which means that it provides hot water only as needed. Tankless Water Heaters do not store water like a tank-style Water Heater. There many advantages and disadvantages of having a Tankless Water Heater in your home. On average a Tankless Water Heater is a bigger investment than a standard tank-style water heater. The cost difference can be due to different variables such as the existing gas line, venting, as well as the unit itself.
How do they work?
The term “On-Demand” that is used when talking about Tankless Water Heaters is when a hot water tap is turned on. As the cold water travels through a pipe to the unit, the tankless water heater has a gas burner or electric element that heats the water. Once the water heats up it supplies you with continuous hot water, and you don’t have to wait for a tank to heat up and fill up before you get hot water.
What are the Pros & Cons?
Pros
Continuous hot water
Longer Lifespan
Space Savings
Lower monthly costs
Longer Warranties
High efficiency
Long term savings
Reduce the risk of water damage
Cons
Upgrading or rerouting the gas line
Replacing other components to allow the installation
Higher initial cost
Limited flow rate
Does not store water in case of emergency
The biggest myth about Tankless Water Heaters is that they provide “Instant” hot water. This is the biggest misunderstanding of what a Tankless Water Heater provides. If you are looking for instant hot water solutions, a hot water recirculating pump would be your solution for a tank or tankless water heater.
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