Water heaters are a staple in almost every household in Arlington, Texas. Given the temperature drops as we head towards winter, hot water becomes a necessity for all of us. If you are in the market for a new water heating system, before you go the traditional route and buy yourselves a large tank of a water heater, you might want to take a look at tankless water heaters.
Here’s a comprehensive list of the pros and cons of tankless water heaters to help you make your decision. Let’s get the drawbacks out of the way first before we head onto the benefits.
Cons
Increased Utility Costs
Tankless water heaters are available in two models – one is the conventional natural gas unit which requires a steady supply of fuel, and the other is the electric model. Both of these models have high requirements of instantaneous energy, resulting in elevated energy costs, both natural gas and electricity.
Expensive
A good sized, conventional water heater tank will set you back anywhere from $350- $600 depending on the brand you choose and where you buy it from. A low grade tankless water heater can easily set you back and cost twice as much – depending on the various options available. And those are just the upfront equipment costs.
For a tankless heater, there are also additional installation charges and requirements which can quickly add to the overall costs. Because both the natural gas and the electric models have their own set of specific requirements including flow rates and gas lines, it’s an additional thing for the home owners to pay for if they’re existing systems are not up to par.
Longer Waiting Times
Conventional water heaters that come with tanks literally have a tank full of hot, heated water ready to run the second you turn the tap on, leading to easy delivery of as much hot water as the pipelines allow. With the tankless water heater on the other hand, water only enters the heat exchanger tubing mechanism to be heated when required i.e. when the tap is turned. The water that remains sitting inside the tubing once you have ceased using the water, eventually cools down again.
Thus, it takes a little longer for the pipes to deliver hot water, requiring a few minutes’ waiting time.
Water Wastage
Due to the above-mentioned fact, tankless water heater systems hit the user with a considerable amount of cold water when the tap is first turned on for hot water, creating what is called a cold-water sandwich between the hot running water used throughout the day.
Most homeowners, in order to avoid being hit with this residual cold water, tend to let the water run until it’s hot enough for them to step into or use. This leads to a considerable amount of wastage of this precious resource.
Limited Output
Conventional tank water heaters will deliver as much hot water as the water pipes can hold at any given time – however, they tend to run out of hot water as the tank empties out. While the tankless water heater system does offer the availability of unlimited hot water at any given moment, the output is limited largely owing to the fact that tankless water heaters only heat the water as it passes through the exchange. If you have invested in a small sized tankless heater for a large sized home, there might not be adequate water flow of hot water – especially in the colder months in Arlington, where the ground water is almost freezing.
Pros
Minimal Space Usage
A traditional water tank heater takes up a considerable amount of space depending on its size. The unconventional and compact design of the tankless water heater means that there will be no needless floor space occupied by an unsightly water tank.
Tankless heaters are small and portable enough to even be mounted up on the wall, saving a considerable amount of space.
Longevity
One of the biggest drawbacks of conventional water heaters is the fact that they either corrode, or fail to function properly after a certain amount of time. This results in a serious need to replace the entire unit. The tankless water heaters are designed to last easily up to 10 years, double the life-span of a water heater tank. With proper care and regular maintenance, the tankless water heater can even last up to 15 or 20 years.
Long-term Savings
While the upfront and installation costs of the tankless water heater may be more than the traditional counterpart, the tankless one offers a considerable amount of savings in the long-term. By significantly reducing the water heating bill, tankless water heaters can save homeowners up to 35 percent on their utility costs per year.
Hot Water as Needed
A conventional water heater will only provide as much hot water as is the capacity of its tank. With a tankless water heating system, you have easy access to as much hot water as you require, whenever you require it.
Taxable Rebate Possibilities
Unbeknownst to most homeowners who are determined to use traditional water tank heaters, majority of the tankless units come with a taxable rebate option for almost a quarter of the system’s actual price.
Minimal to No Energy Losses
In a tankless water heater, there are no heat losses to be concerned about. Unlike water tank heaters, there is no hot water sitting in the tank waiting to be used, losing heat idly.
Environment Friendly
The best part about using a tankless water heating system, especially the one which operates with electricity is that there is no production or emission of any of the greenhouse gases, making the units far more environment friendly than the conventional models.
No Possibility of Flooding
Traditional tank water heater systems always pose a low-key threat of possible flooding if ruptured due to any reason. In a tankless water heating system, which is only essentially a compact water heating exchange that warms the water as needed, there are no tanks that may rupture and cause significant damage to your home’s infrastructure at all.
For the seamless installation, maintenance or repair of the tankless water heater systems in your home in and around Arlington, Texas, be sure to reach out to the heater experts at Benjamin Franklin plumbing services. For more information, please call 817-478-4119, today.