Tankless water heaters are gaining popularity for helping to create a more energy efficient home. But what exactly is a tankless water heater and is it better than a traditional tank-based water heater? Plumbing Experts has been installing tankless water heaters across residences in South Florida for several years, and are experts in helping to determine if tankless is the right option for you.
Traditional water heaters work by heating water in a storage tank, and when you turn your water on, it pulls from that tank that has been heating and storing that water. Tankless water heaters work by pulling water fresh from the source and rapidly heating on-demand. Customers love that tankless heaters are a big space saver, but there are many advantages that come with an on-demand heater.
One of the biggest and most regarded benefits to tankless water heaters is that they are more energy efficient. Tankless water heaters work based on demand. Unlike traditional tanks that work to heat water to their capacity 24/7, whether you need the water or not, tankless water heaters only heat what you need and when you want it to, and thus saves energy. Traditional water heaters are constantly reheating water in order to keep the water within the tank hot, so one of the biggest advantages for tankless is that it eliminates this “standby loss”.
It’s easy to see why tankless sounds like the way to go, but like any product, they also have their drawbacks and may not be the perfect fit for every home. For one, tankless water heaters have a higher upfront cost because the unit is more expensive and installation costs are typically higher. They also sometimes require an upgrade in electrical service. Although your monthly bill will be cheaper due to efficiency, it may take many years to start seeing the high up-front cost start to pay off. Luckily though, tankless water heaters have a longer lifespan than traditional units, so if you are planning on being in your home for a while, it may be worth the investment.
Whether you think tankless sounds like a sweet deal, or you’d rather stick to a conventional unit and are in the market for a water heater, we hope you will consider allowing Plumbing Experts to help you find the perfect option for your home and get the job done.
We are running a special right now: Save $150 on Water Heaters (see coupon below). Please give us a call at Palm Beach (561) 279-2460 or Broward (954) 786-0477 or contact us here if you have any questions.
