If we were to ask you which system is the workhorse of your home, you’d probably say it’s your air conditioner. It’s true that with our hot, humid weather, your air conditioner does a lot for your home comfort for many months out of the year.
However, think about how much you rely on water in your home. Every time you take a shower, wash your hands, rinse a dish, and do a load of laundry, you’re depending on your water heater. In fact, we’d argue that the water heater is the true workhorse of a home, keeping you supplied with hot water 365 days a year!
If you need a new water heater, perhaps you’ve wondered if your home would benefit from a tankless water heater installation. Let’s go over the pros and cons of these systems so you can be an informed consumer when it’s time to make the decision.
Tankless Water Heater Pros
- They save energy: Tankless water heaters use a lot less energy because they’re not constantly heating water in a tank 24/7.
- Save money: Because they use less energy than a tank water heater, you’ll save money on utility bills over its lifespan.
- Longevity: Tankless models last longer because they’re not subject to the constant wear and tear that comes from storing and heating hot water 24/7.
- Unlimited hot water: They’re also referred to as on-demand water heaters because they heat water on demand. That means never running out of hot water halfway through a shower again
- Compact size: They take up less space compared to their tank counterparts. It can be mounted on a wall, leaving you with more space in your home or garage.
Tankless Water Heater Cons
- Cost of unit and installation: You’re looking at a higher upfront cost for both the purchase and installation of a tankless hot water heater. That’s because they’re more technologically advanced than traditional water heaters. Plumbing modifications might need to be made if you had a tank water heater previously which contributes to a higher installation cost.
- The wait for hot water: Because they heat water on demand, you’ll have to wait a bit for the hot water to come out of the tap. This delay could be anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds which might not seem like a long time until you’re standing in the shower waiting for the water to get hot.
There Is One Caveat
Remember where we mentioned that a tankless would never run out of hot water? Well, that isn’t necessarily true all of the time. There are some specific scenarios where a tankless water heater might struggle with its ability to deliver enough hot water.
For example, if you have several household members who all need to take hot showers at the same time every morning, a tankless water heater might not be able to keep up. However, it’s always possible to install a small backup tank water heater to deal with high demand.
Our service professionals are here to answer any questions you have about the perfect water heater for your home!
Contact HM Plumbing today to discuss water heater replacement in Atlanta, GA. Serving with Integrity.