Should you choose a tankless water heater or a regular water heater for your home?
Water heaters are one of the essential HVAC appliances that are owned by almost every homeowner in the USA. Apart from that, it is an expensive investment for many people. You need to pay thousands of dollars to buy and install a water heater.
This is the reason when it is time to replace a water heater, consider various factors like cost, efficiency, lifespan, etc., with care.
Are you wondering whether to shift from storage tank-based water heaters to tankless water heaters? You would like to know about things like tankless vs tank water heater pros and cons or about tankless water heater installation requirements.
Find out all about tankless water heaters and the disadvantages of tankless water heaters.
Tankless water heater
Tankless water heaters are also called on-demand or instant water heaters as they offer heat water on demand, making it a more energy-efficient option over traditional water heaters. They generate hot water on demand with the help of high-powered gas burners or electric coils.
According to the latest consumer report, tankless water heaters, especially gas-powered ones, are around 22% more efficient as compared to the traditional water heater. In short, you can say that tankless water heaters have many more pros than traditional water heaters, and no doubt they are an excellent long-term investment.
For more information, let’s deep dive into the tankless vs. tank water heater pros and cons.
Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters
Offers instant hot water
Once it flushes cold water from the pipes out from the taps, this water heater has the potential to deliver unending hot water right away. Thus, the tankless water heater can indeed keep on its promise to offer hot water instantly.
Helps in saving money
A tankless water heater uses less energy, so it will save you money in the long run. This type of water heater is suitable for those who are living in an area where the energy cost is high.
Flexible placement options
The tankless water heater is tiny in size and can be easily installed in tight quarters, like, a closet or small basement. Apart from that, they can be easily hung on the wall. In short, they are best for homes that are small in size.
Have longer lifespan
This is another considerable advantage of a tankless water heater over a regular water heater. That means a tankless water heater comes with a longer lifespan of around 20 years.
They are energy efficient
The report of the US Department of energy states that tankless water heaters save around 24% to 34% energy as compared to tank water heaters. So, if you are looking forward to saving money on energy bills, then installing a tankless water heater will be a wise decision.
Disadvantages of Tankless Water Heaters
Have inconsistent temperatures
According to the consumer reports survey, the inconsistent temperature is one of the biggest customer complaints regarding tankless water heaters. Experts for Tankless water heater installation in Los Angeles say that this problem is due to the heater’s inability to offer enough hot water to various faucets at one time.
Cannot work in a power outage
If there is no power at home, your tankless water heater will not produce hot water. So, if you are living in an area where there is a frequent power outage, then a tankless water heater will not be a good decision unless you have generators that can provide the required energy.
High up-front costs
A tankless water heater costs around three-four times more than a tank or regular water heater. However, there is an option to pay by installment. Still, it will prove costly, especially when you are replacing the storage water heater with a tankless water heater.
Delivers flow-rate challenges
If you own a tankless water heater and plan to take showers simultaneously in different home bathrooms, you will run out of steam. The reason is your water heater is not of the appropriate size to meet the demands of hot water, according to your home.
You need additional equipment
If you want your tankless water heater to work without any issues, you have to install a water softener. So, apart from the high initial cost, you will get an additional burden from the water softener. This will also take up extra space in your home.
Installation is costly
It is true that it takes less space as compared to a traditional water heater, but its installation is more costly than the latter. The reason is the requirements of tankless water heater installation in Los Angeles are quite complex in which contractors have to reroute gas lines, venting, etc., to the project.
Storage or tank or regular water heater
Conventional or traditional storage water heaters remain the trusted choice of domestic homes. It is a water heating electrical appliance that comes with a large tank to store hot water for a longer period. Storage water heaters are connected to the main water line of the home by which water enters inside the tank from one pipe. After it gets heated, it comes from another pipe through the faucets.
Once your usage is complete, the remaining hot water will remain stored in the tank. However, if you want the water to remain hot for a longer period, tanks are equipped with insulation coatings.
Advantages of storage or regular water heaters
They are inexpensive
Everyone wants an efficient water heater that offers hot water without any issues and high costs. So, in that case, storage water heaters will be the right choice which everyone can afford.
They come in varied sizes
This is one of the best advantages of a storage water heater, which means it can store around 30 to 80 gallons of water. So, if you are looking forward to installing a storage water heater in your home, then choose the right size unit that can meet the needs of your home.
For example, if you have a family of 2-3 people, then you can go for 30 to 40 gallons of water heaters. However, if you are 5-6 members, then opt for 60 gallons of water heaters. In addition to that, if you are unaware of all these things, then you can contact a professional to help you.
Helps in saving energy
These days water heater manufacturers employ some additional features in the unit so that it can save on energy. If your main aim is to buy an energy-efficient unit, then opt for a 5-star rating unit and take the help of a professional for water heater installation in Los Angeles for the same.
Affordable installation service
If you look at the installation cost of a storage water heater, it is quite low compared to an instant water heater. The storage water heater installation is very easy, and the whole installation material is offered by the water heater manufacturer so that you will not face any issues while installing.
They are equipped with advanced technology.
As people love to install storage water heaters due for this reason, water heater manufacturers equip water heaters with new advanced technologies. For example, smart control technology will help you to personalize hot showers, wi-fi connectivity which means you can control the unit from anywhere, and many more.
Disadvantages of Storage Water Heater
They come with a shorter life span.
A storage water heater costs less, but it also has a smaller lifespan. A storage water heater’s average life span is 10 to 12 years which is less than half the lifespan of tankless water heaters.
The size is big
If your home is not spacious, installing a storage water heater will not be a good decision. The reason is it takes up a lot of space and is not best for small houses.
More risks
There are many instances of storage water heaters exploding if they are not installed properly or due to other malfunctions. Apart from that, if the minerals start building inside the water heater due to hard water or rust corroding the tank, the anode rod develops a fault.
Have difficulty operating
Sometimes the water heater starts offering various issues like insufficient hot water and many more problems. As a common man, everyone is not aware of the operation of the water heater as it is somewhat complex. Apart from that, there are various other things about the storage water heater, which is difficult.
Which one should you choose, a tankless water heater or a storage water heater?
In the battle of tankless vs. tanked water heaters, tankless water heaters win in many categories. However, the initial cost of installing a tankless water heater is high, but it will save you money in the long run as it saves up to 22% of the energy compared to a storage water heater. Moreover, a tankless water heater is ideal for small homes.
Once you decide on installing a tankless water heater in your home, hire a professional for water heater installation in Los Angeles.
If you are looking for the best company for water heater installation or water heater repair in Los Angeles, then EZ Plumbing USA will be the right choice. They have been working in this field for over 20 years and have a huge client list to prove it. Apart from being the trusted water heater repair company, all their professionals are licensed, bonded, and insured.
