Many homeowners are under the impression that residential tankless water heaters are somewhat new to the market. And because they have not got much real-world testing, they could be a less reliable option. But the reality is that these innovative water heaters have been functioning in homes across the country for over 20 years. And in many cases, these units are still working flawlessly two decades later. However, longevity is only one of the many benefits of going tankless for your home’s hot water.
Going Tankless Is A Great Space Saver
Everyone can close their eyes and picture the approximate size of a traditional water heater. The tank can be as tall as an adult. And the complete unit requires a footprint of several square feet for installation according to most manufacturer’s recommendations. So think of the space needed to be about equal to the average coat closet.
But a tankless water heater is only about the size of your average medium suitcase. Picture a box around two feet wide, a foot and a half tall and less than a foot deep. Or to put it in storage terms, think of the space under your bathroom sink. A tankless water heater needs only about half of the space available under most bathroom vanities. The compact size makes it fast and simple to install a tankless water heater in a variety of areas throughout your home.
Never-Ending Hot Water
Tankless water heaters only heat water when there is a demand for it. So your access to hot water is pretty much unlimited. As long as you have a faucet or spigot open, the unit will continue to heat water. So unlike a tank-style water heater, your hot water supply is not limited by the capacity of your water heaters holding tank. Simply put, a tankless water heater does a better job of meeting your need for a large amount of hot water.
Longer Life
We briefly mentioned that many of the tankless water heaters installed across the country are twenty years old or more. And that would be unheard of for a traditional water heater. But with an average life span of two decades or more, tankless units offer two or three times the service life of an average tank-style water heater. That is a lot more peace of mind for homeowners whose lives are busy enough without worrying about scheduling an appointment for a water heater replacement. Not to mention the discomfort of a cold shower when you discover that your water heater has failed.
No Potential Flood In Your Home
Not only do tankless water heaters last longer, but they don’t flood your home when they eventually wear out. A standard water heater is likely to rupture when it is near the end of its lifecycle. The constant exposure to the corrosive sediment in most water eats holes in the holding tank. And when that happens, 30, 40, 50 or more gallons of hot water will leak out and damage your home. A tankless water heater holds only about a quarter of a gallon of water. That is like spilling a water bottle, not a wading pool. So even when a tankless water heater fails, it is less stressful and damaging to your home.
Energy Efficiency
Keeping 30,40 or 50 gallons of water hot 24 hours a day, 365 days a year is expensive. But that is how a traditional water heater functions. But when you install a tankless water heater, it will only consume energy to heat water when there is a demand for it. So all of the hours you are sleeping, away from home, or simply not using hot water, your tankless water heater uses no energy. That represents a significant drop in your cost for hot water. On average, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates a gas tankless water heater will save homeowners over $100 a year. An electric unit will save around $50 each year.
To learn more about the benefits of installing a tankless water heater in your home, call (214) 388-8838 to speak to one of the Flow Plumbing licensed plumbers. We offer free price quotes for water heater installations and all other types of plumbing jobs as well. And each job is backed by a complete warranty and our customer satisfaction guarantee. With years serving the community, our team has the experience and expertise you deserve for all of your plumbing needs.
