Tankless vs tank, an age-old question. The biggest advantage a tank water heater has right now is the price is lower than that of a tankless model. The cost of the unit itself may be lower but the expense of running it will be higher, canceling out the lower cost in the long run.
Tank water heaters basically heat water to a set temperature and periodically throughout the day reheat it to keep it at that temperature. This wastes energy in heating and reheating standing water in a tank. They also require regular flushing and maintenance which can add to the cost of operating one. Once you add up the costs and the inefficiency, they really are an outdated way to heat your home’s water.
Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand, are much more energy efficient to operate since they heat the water, as needed. The water is heated as it flows through the system and it stops when the water is turned off so there is no energy being used to continuously keep a tank full of water at a constant temperature. There are many sizes of tankless water heaters available from a single source to whole house water heaters.
Another resource that is conserved when using a tankless water heater is the water itself. No more running the water until it heats up enough. Less water down the drain is less money out of your pocket. The maintenance of the tankless heaters is much less also and they rarely need flushing out except in places with extremely hard water deposits.
Taking your home’s water usage in mind when purchasing and installing the tankless water heater will help determine the best one for your needs. For the larger family home, it may be wise to install several smaller units in the areas where there is little hot water use along with a larger unit in the kitchen and laundry areas. This will be more than enough to supply your home with all the hot water that will be needed while saving you money on the water and utility bills at the same time.
Call Will’s All Pro Plumbing & Air Conditioning today for more information on tankless vs tank!