If your storage tank water heater is getting older and you’re thinking about replacing it, now’s the time to consider the pros and cons of a tankless water heater. On the plus side are the variety of options you have, such as a choice of gas or electric, and an array of sizes ranging from small units ideal for a single bathroom to high-capacity units capable of supplying hot water for a large home.
Advantages of Going Tankless
There’s a pretty impressive list of pros for on-demand or tankless water heaters, including:
- Energy savings. An on-demand water heater doesn’t keep a big tank full of water on standby 24/7 so it’s available when you need it. Even if your tank-type heater is extra well insulated, it has to burn energy to keep hot water on standby, and you pay for this waste all year long.
- Enhanced reliability. The average storage tank unit has a lifespan of 10–13 years. As it gets older, the risk of a failure that leaves your home water damaged increases. In contrast, on-demand models have an average lifespan of 20 years, and there’s zero danger of a tank failure.
- Greater convenience. If your family uses a lot of hot water at certain times of day, you’ve probably drained the tank a few times. If you’re tired of that inconvenience, you’ll appreciate that a larger tankless unit can supply up to three showers simultaneously, and since it heats on demand, you’ll never run out of hot water again.
- Ease of placement. Because they’re so compact, the need for venting and access to your gas supply are the only real limitations on where you can install on-demand water heaters.
Downsides of Tankless Water Heaters
The only negatives are that on-demand units can be two–three times as expensive as storage tank models, and intallation can be more expensive if modifications are required. For many, the benefits of energy savings, convenience and long-term reliability outweigh the higher cost.
For help deciding if a tankless water heater is ideal for your Indianapolis home, contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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