We underestimate sometimes the amount of luxury the modern age brings us with things like having hot water available at all times.
So, naturally, when we face a water heater problem we start looking at the best possible solution that will last a long time.
Knowing that the average water heater will last you a maximum of 15 years is exactly what makes new and longer-lasting solutions like tankless heater such an attractive idea.
But before you rush into it, thrilled with the prospect of unlimited hot water and a heater with a plethora of benefits, let us introduce you to all the facts regarding tankless water heater you should know before buying or installing one.
The Good About Tankless Water Heaters
First, we need to understand how regular water heaters work, to understand why going tankless is an improvement.
Regular water heaters store water and heat it within the tank. They keep the temperature of the water on a certain level.
But when you run out of water, you need to wait some time for the tank to fill up and the water to reach high temperatures again. Also, if there is ever an issue with your regular water heater and the tank fails, you will be faced with a mess of massive proportions leaving you nothing else than to work the mop.
On the other hand, a tankless water heater doesn’t store water at all. It taps into the waterline directly and heats water as it passes certain elements of the heater.
This can be an electric component or a gas burner, either way, the water is heated as it goes, instead of sitting idly in a tank. Because of the lack of tank, in case of any issues with your tankless water heater, at least you won’t have to deal with any mess.
Tankless Heater Saves Money In The Long Run
According to the statistics of The Department of Energy, the average household uses around 64 gallons of water a day and it costs roughly around $500 per year.
Tankless water heater can be 30% more energy-efficient and save you around $100 per year. And it’s all because it heats water only when you need it as opposed to constantly heating it in a tank.
After you install one in your home, your next energy bill will be a cause for a celebration
Small and Compact
Wouldn’t you love to not have to put aside a whole room for your water heater?
With tankless water heater, you only need a small amount of space and you can easily tuck it under a countertop and hide it from plain sight. The engineering of these heaters is a sleek and gorgeous looking display and can even come in 14x14x11 feet size. Yeah, that small!
Immediate and endless hot water supply
As long as the tankless heater is working properly, you will have hot water on demand and for as long as you want to. So you can have those long showers without risking a warzone in your home for spending all the hot water.
Also, you won’t need to worry about being shocked with cold water if someone decides to wash some dishes.
Tankless water heater can fulfil all the needs of your home and its appliances at the same time.
You Can Go ”Smart” With It
Some tankless water heaters have gone so far and made an app that allows you to control the water heater. This means you can turn it on your phone to save energy until you are back home again. You can also turn it back on before you even step through your doorway.
Tankless Water Heater Last Longer
Tankless water heaters will last 20+ years on average but that is almost 10 years longer than conventional ones. And every one of those 10 years will be energy-efficient and less costly.
The Bad About Tankless
Installation Costs and Price Tag
Yes, sure, it saves money, but sometimes it seems that before saving any you will spend a fortune to buy and install a tankless water heater. Some differences in prices depend on the type of tankless water heater and the type of fuel, but one thing is sure- you will pay much more for it than for a conventional water heater.
While you can get a decent regular water heater for $500, you will need to extend your budget to at least $800 to get a tankless water heater. And this is an average price for a tankless water heater.
The next problem is the Installation Cost. On average it costs about $2,000 but that really depends on the type of work a professional plumber has to do.
Only the professional plumber knows how to install the tankless water heater in a way for it to make the best performance. There may be some fees for disposing of your old water heater system, but those are minor compared to the total.
If a plumber needs to create a vent or do some re-routing of the pipes, you can expect a higher cost
You Need To Go Big or Go Home
The biggest problem with the tankless water heater is, while you do have an endless amount of hot water, you can in fact overwhelm the system. This happens when you have many appliances that use water working at the same time, like washing machine and dishwasher, but also running your shower.
You need to mind the flow rate (gallons per minute) and choose a tankless water heater with a large enough capacity to supply all the water point in your house. Otherwise you will overtax the device and make your water run hot, then cold, then hot again. It may be good for your circulation, but it is not the correct way any water heater should work.
If you have a large home consider installing a single point or ‘point of use’ tankless system which will be placed near the appliance that needs them and they only cost about $100-$200 each.
No Power? No Water
It doesn’t matter if you have a gas water heater, if you don’t have electrical power the control panel of the heater won’t work, meaning that the whole tankless heater won’t work.
Maintenance Of Tankless Water Heater
We are not sure if it counts as a bad feature, but some tankless heaters will shut down if they detect a calcium or any other kind of buildup.
And while this is a good method to prevent larger issues, because of this you also need to install softener if your neighborhood is known for having hard water
Should You Have One Installed?
Bottom line, going tankless is your choice, provided your home can convert to tankless water heating. But if all conditions are met and you find a heater and a plumber to do the repairs within your desired budget, you should consider it a definitive upgrade.
Tankless water heater will boost your home’s popularity on the market if you ever decide to sell it as ”smart homes” are in demand. It may not get you a higher price, but you will sell better and faster.
The biggest piece of advice we can give you is to avoid getting the tankless at all costs. Your home may not be fit for it, and you may not really require it, so make sure to adapt the water heating method to you, your habits and the layout of your home for the best possible results.
Residing in Los Angeles and need a water heater to be installed?
Call Us Today!
