If you’re upgrading or replacing your water heater and find yourself curious about the difference between a tankless water heater versus a standard heater, keep reading! It’s helpful to know how they work, what their benefits are, and which style you prefer. Knowing what you want for your home and how each water heater works can help you prepare for any upgrade and installation plans.
Standard Water Heaters
As suggested, the standard storage water heater is fairly common in most households. It houses a ready reservoir of hot water that is constantly heated in the tank. Standard water heaters experience standby heat loss, where some energy and heat is wasted when not in use, though some heaters may have well-insulated tanks that can reduce such loss. Standard storage water heaters are typically lower in purchase costs but may require regular maintenance or cause major plumbing problems if they leak or break.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless gas and electric water heaters are more energy-efficient and provide hot water only as needed. When the hot water tap is turned on, cold water flows through the unit to heat it, and a steady supply of hot water comes through the tap. A downside to the tankless water system is that it can limit output flow rates if a large quantity of hot water is needed. If multiple appliances are using hot water simultaneously, then hot water flow may be limited.
Tankless water heaters may have a higher initial purchasing and installation cost than that of a standard water heater, but they will typically last longer and have lower operating/energy costs over a longer running life. Standard water heaters may last 10 – 15 years, but tankless water heaters can last over 20 years and have easily replaceable parts.Water heating is the 2nd largest utility expense in most homes and understanding the true cost of a water heater involves understanding their purchase, installation, operating, and maintenance costs. We recommend investing in tankless water heaters and our expert plumbers can guide you through the process and assure proper installation.