Tankless Water Heater vs Traditional

When you built a home, one of the costly appliances would be a water heater, which you cannot ignore. Equipping your new home or replacing your old water heater can put you a new dilemma, whether to get the traditional tank system water heater or you should go with the modern tankless water heater. Lack of knowledge can make taking the decision hard for you. A comparison between the tank system water heater and the tankless water heater is put together in this article, which can help homeowners or consumers like you to make the best decision for yourself and your family.

The traditional storage water heater is mainly gas driven. It stores and preheats 30 to 40 gallons of water. So, the tank gradually empties while someone uses that hot water to shower, bath, dishwashing, etc. Then the machine stores water again in its container and heats it again. On the other hand, a tankless water heater can also be called on-demand water heater. There is no tank. Water was heated, flowing between units and delivered to the faucets. So, the supply of water is unlimited, and one can get hot water whenever he wants.

The initial buying cost of a traditional water heater is pretty lower, as well as its installation cost. The biggest con of a tankless water heater is its initial cost. It can cost you $2800 to $4000 depends on where and which quality tankless water heater you are buying. But the longevity of a tank system water heater is quite base comparing to the tankless water heater. It will give you service mostly for 15 years. Tankless water heater runs for a long time with no problem if the maintenance is right, which is more than 20 years. A storage water heater will take a considerable place of your home where a tankless water heater is almost like a carry-on suitcase, which you can install anywhere in your home – exterior or interior wherever you want.

Regardless of your water need, the traditional tank system water heater heat and reheat water at a pre-set temperature. It actually uses a lot of energy in this regard. So, your utility will be much higher compared to using a tankless water heater. Because a tankless water heater will heat water only when you need it and supply the water then and then. No question of reheat comes as no storage system works for such heater. So, like a traditional water heater, you will face no surprise high utility bill in winter or cold season and can have hot water in every month of the year according to your demand.

Ever face a cold water wave in the middle of your dreamy hot shower in winter? That’s because your storage water heater is out of hot water in its tank. That bummer will not occur to you if a tankless water heater is installed at your place because no storage means no limit to the water supply. You will have your hot water comes to you until you shut off your faucet. Another best thing additional to that is you will always get fresh water. Due to store water in a place again and again, sometimes stales and many gross things grow in a tank that results in odd smell or taste in the water. One does not need to worry about this while installing a tankless water heater because the absence of a storage tank and ever-flowing hot water directly to the faucets ensures the supply of fresh water.

Ignoring the initial high cost, it can be said that a tankless water heater is better than a traditional water heater. It is slowly capturing the market, and according to energy.gov, an energy star tankless water heater can save up to $100 a year as well as save 22% energy. So, handling the high initial cost will ultimately bring some savings home in the long run.

Switching from a storage water heater to a tankless water heater is a big leap because sometimes a plumbing retrofit is needed as well as an upgrade of electrical and gas lines to increase the capacity of the tankless water heater. If one is interested in saving energy, money in the long run, and some residential space as well, then the tankless water heater is a good choice. But one should invest his money according to his lifestyle and budget. If you need a quick replacement and a person of limited income, then a tank system water heater might be suitable for you. A licensed plumber can help you decide which type of heater would be best for your home.