Tankless vs Traditional Water Heaters

Hot water is used for various household tasks such as bathing, dishes, and laundry. Therefore, you should get a water heater that can provide enough hot water for all your needs. Apart from selecting the best water heater from different models and brands, you may be offered a tankless water heater option.

In this article, we will check how tankless water heaters differ from the traditional water heaters available in the market for centuries and what you should consider when deciding the best for your home.

What is a Tankless water heater? 

Traditional water heaters put a given amount of water in the reservoir depending on your family’s needs. However, for tankless water heaters, water is heated when it’s on-demand. They are mostly used in Europe compared to other parts of the world.

However, since the last decade, people worldwide are starting to prefer tankless technology for all their hot water needs. However, to upgrade to tankless technology, it may depend on the pipe structure of your building. Many old buildings cannot accommodate tankless water heating given their pipe structure.

Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters 

Traditional water heaters can run out of water when you are washing dishes, doing laundry, or showering. On the other hand, tankless water heaters provide a continuous supply of hot water when demanded. This eliminates the energy needed by traditional water heaters to keep water warm, thus lowering your energy bills.

Tankless water heaters are smaller compared to traditional water heaters; therefore, they don’t take up space. They’re also available in gas and electric versions, giving you more options compared to the traditional variant.

Gas VS Electric Versions

The best tankless gas water heater can heat the water up to five gallons per minute while the best electric tankless water heater heats water up to three gallons per minute. However, electric models are not preferable when it comes to cost since they usually require a constant electricity supply.

Furthermore, another thing to consider when opting for an electric water heater is the power supply. If you live somewhere where there is constant power interruption due to natural disasters, opting for gas is the better option to have uninterrupted supply of hot water.

Cons to Consider 

Tankless water heaters do not work effectively in all climates, especially in cold areas. They are also expensive to buy compared to their traditional counterparts. Installation also tends to be expensive because you will have to hire a technician who knows all about the tankless technology.

At some point, you may be required to overhaul your pipe structure to have the tankless water heaters installed. Suppose you want to upgrade your old water heater for a more effective model and without spending anything. In that case, you only need to talk to your water heater installation contractor for your other options. A reliable technician should be honest about what is best for your home.

Final Words

Even though tankless water heaters is the new technology in town, neither the traditional water heaters or tankless water heaters are best for all homes. You will need to talk to a trusted technician to decide your home’s best option, given your hot water capacity, energy efficiency, and monthly bills.

Whether you choose the traditional way or go tankless, the main aim is to have enough hot water for all your house needs without worrying about the energy bills.

However, for those acquiring new homes with several bathrooms and hot water taps, tankless water heaters are the way to go. This will make sure that you don’t run out of hot water in the house, and you will also save some amount of money from your energy bills.