Continuous hot water means no fighting for the shower.
Tankless water heaters are a great alternative to traditional hot water tanks for those looking to make their home more energy-efficient, as tankless water heaters can offer energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint. However, as with any appliance, there are pros and cons of tankless water heaters.
Tankless units can be gas or electric, and they heat water only as it’s needed. The water is rapidly heated on-demand using high-powered coils or burners, in contrast to traditional hot water tanks which continuously heat water and store it for use.
While there are many benefits to installing a tankless unit in your home, we’ll be the first to tell you that tankless water heaters aren’t for everyone. As both professional plumbers and homeowners, the team at ProSolutions has seen the good and the bad when it comes to tankless heaters. To help you decide if one is right for you, let’s take a look at some pros and cons of tankless water heaters.
When deciding whether a tankless unit is right for your home, be sure to consider both the pros and cons of tankless water heaters.
Here are some of the most significant tankless water heater pros and reasons why you should consider installing a tankless water heater in your home.
With the right tankless unit installed in your home, you’ll never have to worry about running out of hot water again.
Everyone knows the feeling of jumping into the shower and turning it on only to find someone has used all the hot water. How does this happen? Because someone has drained the hot water tank! Now you have two options—stand there in the cold and wait for the tank to refill (might take a while) or get out and try again later. Not ideal either way.
Unlike a hot water tank, tankless water heaters heat your water on demand. This means that as soon as you turn the hot water tap on, the unit begins rapidly heating water for you to use. Note the hot water still has to travel through your home to get to your faucet, but once you get your hot water, you don't have to worry about running out. Never again will you be stuck in the shower with nothing but cold water.
A tankless water heater can help you save on your utility bills because they only heat water when you need it; this means they are generally more energy efficient compared to a traditional hot water heater, which heats water and stores it for your use. As we are born and raised in Edmonton, we understand the importance of nice, hot showers—especially with how frigid our winters can get—and we know a shower is much more relaxing without worrying about higher costs.
On average, a tankless water heater will last much longer than a standard hot water tank. While a hot water tank typically lasts about 7 to 10+ years, a tankless unit can last 15-20+ years!
Tankless water heaters are very compact and mount to the wall. As a result, you can fit a tankless unit into many smaller spaces, meaning you can reclaim more usable space in your home for other home comfort upgrades.
Once you set the temperature you want, you can rest assured your tankless heater will ensure consistent hot water when you want it—even during extended use.
When installing any new appliance in your home, it’s important to keep in mind future maintenance. Consider how easy (or difficult) it will be to get replacement parts for the product, as well as how easy it will be to find someone to service the unit.
Luckily, replacement parts for tankless water heaters are easy to come by in Edmonton, especially when you upgrade to a modern unit. While aging models may be more difficult to repair or maintain, new tankless heaters come with the benefits of warranty, better efficiency, and more availability when it comes to parts and service.
As you’ve seen above, there are many tankless water heater pros. But no review would be complete without looking at both the pros and cons of tankless water heaters. So then, what are the cons of a tankless water heater?
Here’s why a tankless water heater might not be for you.
If you want to purchase and install a new tankless unit in your home, you’ll be looking at a higher initial cost compared to a traditional hot water tank. This is because tankless water heater installations can be more complex, and when upgrading from a tanked water heater to a tankless one, there may be modifications required to ensure a seamless, perfect installation.
For example, when switching from a hot water tank to a tankless unit, you may need your gas lines rerouted or a larger gas supply line. Both of these alterations will increase the cost of installation. Your water lines may also need to be altered, and a plumber will need to determine if your water pressure will be high enough to supply the unit. This evaluation is especially important if you have several different locations in your home that require the use of hot water to ensure enough hot water can be heated on demand to supply all sources.
For a quote custom tailored to your home and your current system, feel free to reach out!
A tankless hot water heater may require more maintenance than a traditional hot water tank. For instance, depending on your water source, your tankless unit may need its pipes flushed every year to prevent sediment from building.
That being said, all of your household appliances should be maintained regularly to keep them in good condition, to extend their lifespans, and to keep them working efficiently. Whether you are installing a new tankless water heater or sticking with a traditional hot water tank, ensure your annual maintenance services are scheduled!
All tankless water heaters require electricity, which means your access to hot water relies on having access to electrical power. If there is a power outage, you won't have hot water.
While tankless water heaters provide continuous hot water, that water does need to move through the home—and its flow rate is specified by the manufacturer. If a home has many appliances running at once which all use copious amounts of hot water (taking a hot shower while doing dishes while the laundry is running), homeowners may experience affected water pressure, especially if the tankless unit has not been sized properly for the home's water demand.
To ensure your tankless water heater is correctly sized for your home's water usage, contact us for a free in-home estimate!
After comparing the pros and cons of tankless water heaters, we hope you have a sense of whether a tankless unit is right for you and your home. To help with your decision, here are some common situations where tankless units are helpful and when they’re not.
Tankless units are ideal for homes that:
Tankless hot water heaters are not a great option for homes with:
If you've considered the advantages and disadvantages of tankless water heaters and are still unsure if one is right for your household, give us a shout! We're happy to chat with you and provide you with a free in-home assessment and quote to help you make your decision.
Plus, ask about our financing options and check out our seasonal savings for deals on upgrading to a tankless water heater.
