Imagine never running out of hot water in your home. Sounds like a dream, right? You may want to consider a tankless water heater, a type of water heater that produces hot water on demand, instead of storing it in a large tank like a traditional water heater.
Tankless water heaters are more expensive to install than storage tank heaters, but can save you money due to their remarkable efficiency and ability to rapidly produce gallons of hot water. If you are looking for a replacement for your old water heater, consider going tankless.
What is a tankless water heater?
A tankless water heater, to start with the obvious, does not use the big storage tank associated with traditional water heaters. This newer type of water heater is sometimes called an "instant water heater" or an "on demand water heater" because the water is heated immediately instead of being stored in a large tank. This means that you won't run out of hot water because it is delivered to you as you request it. Pretty cool, right? If this sounds like something you might consider for your home, keep scrolling to read about the benefits of a tankless water heater.
Gas or Electric?
Tankless water heaters come in two varieties, gas and electric. When deciding the best option for you, it is important to consider your home utility set up. Electric water heaters are easier to install than gas, but are more expensive long term due to the price of electricity. Gas heaters are more expensive to install, but will save you on energy each month. If you already have a gas line running to your home, you may want to consider the gas powered heater.
Now that we've learned a bit more about what a tankless water heater is and how it works, let's get into some of the major benefits of tankless water heaters.
- Energy Efficiency
Heating up water can use a shocking amount of energy
In the average household, hot water can account for 20% of your utilities. Traditional storage tanks can be a waste of energy. When your water is heated in a storage tank, it can lose heat over time as the water remains unused. Since a tankless water heater provides hot water on demand, your heater will not use excess energy heating and storing water the old fashioned way. With a tankless water heater, you'll make your home more efficient by only heating water you actually need. Just by switching to a tankless water heater you'll be able to reduce your hot water heating costs by up to 30 percent.
- Unlimited Hot Water
Possibly the best benefit of a tankless water heater
If you are considering a tankless water heater, the appeal of unlimited hot water is definitely a major plus. If you live in a household that uses a lot of hot water, this could be the ideal solution to make sure your shower never runs cold. With a tankless water heater, you'll be able to run several different appliances like a washing machine and a dishwasher without fear of running out of hot water. We all know how relaxing a hot bath or shower can be after a hard day of work. With a tankless hot water heater you can fully relax knowing you are not going to run out of hot water.
- Extended Longevity
Your new water heater could last up to twice as long
One of the major advantages of tankless water heaters is that they have a longer lifespan than traditional water heaters. The average tankless water heater will last anywhere from 5 to 10 years longer than your old water heater. If you are replacing your water heater every 20 years instead of every 10, you will save on replacement and continued maintenance costs.
- Environmentally Friendly
Help cut down on your energy use
Since we know that on demand water heaters can save you money on your monthly bills, it makes sense that it is also the more environmentally friendly option over storage tank hot water. By using less fuel to heat the same amount of water as a storage tank, you are reducing your total environmental footprint. Not only are tankless water heaters more cost effective, they are also the more environmentally friendly option.
Since we know that on demand water heaters can save you money on your monthly bills, it makes sense that it is also the more environmentally friendly option over storage tank hot water. By using less fuel to heat the same amount of water as a storage tank, you are reducing your total environmental footprint. Not only are tankless water heaters more cost effective, they are also the more environmentally friendly option.
- Save Space
Tankless water heaters are a fraction of the size of tank storage heaters
One of the exceptional benefits of a tankless water heater is its size. Much smaller than a water tank, a tankless water heater takes up a fraction of the space. Instead of taking up a closet size room, your water heater can now be mounted on a wall. The average tankless water heater is about 10" high and 7" wide and can fit in a cabinet. If you are looking to maximize the space in your home, you should definitely consider a tankless water heater.
Now that we have gone over some of the most important benefits of a tankless water heater, it's up to you to decide if it sounds right for you. If you are interested in lowering your energy costs and having unlimited on demand hot water, a tankless water heater may be the right move. Be sure to consider the size of your home, the age of your current water heater, and your utility set up to ensure you are getting the most long term savings. If it sounds like you're ready for a tankless water heater, you can always contact the experts at Restano for a free quote.
