Tank water heaters have long been the top choice in the nation, but many homeowners in Pensacola, FL are making the switch to tankless water heaters. Tankless water heaters provide continuous, on-demand water heating. They eliminate standby energy losses and have sleek, space-saving designs. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we’re highlighting the differences between these two water heater types.
Tankless Water Heating Is More Efficient
Tank water heaters heat water and store it for future use. They also repeatedly reheat their hot water stores over time. Whether you’re asleep or at work, a tank water heater will constantly consume energy to keep its contents at your preferred temperature.
Tankless water heaters only heat water when residents need it. This “once-and-done” method is significantly more efficient. According to the United States Department of Energy (DOE), households with daily hot water use of 41 gallons or less can reduce their water heating costs by as much as 34% with tankless water heaters. For homes that use 86 gallons of hot water or more each day, tankless water heaters can be up to 14% more efficient than standard, storage-based designs.
On-Demand Water Heating Doesn’t Mean Unlimited Hot Water
Tank water heaters are limited by their tank sizes. They can only heat and hold so much water at once. If you have a medium-sized water heater tank and a large household, you probably run out of hot water when everyone showers or bathes or after running plumbing-connected appliances.
However, tankless water heaters have limitations, too. Many consumers confuse on-demand water heating with unlimited hot water supply. Tankless water heaters can only serve a small number of taps and appliances at once. Even though tankless water heaters heat water as soon as people need it, you might run into supply issues if you attempt to draw a bath and run your dishwasher or washing machine at the same time.
Tankless Water Heaters Take Up Less Space
The larger your household is and the more hot water you require, the larger your tank-based water heater must be. These appliances require a fair amount of storage space and often have their own storage closets or basement corners. Tankless water heaters have slim and inconspicuous profiles. This gives homeowners more freedom and flexibility when choosing storage locations. It also frees up more room for housing other essentials.
Tankless Water Heaters Sustain Less Wear and Last Longer
Storage-based water heaters are constantly subject to the ravages of hard water minerals. Over time, dissolved calcium, magnesium, and iron create heavy deposits that wear down glass tank liners and water connections. Heavy buildups of sediment can cause leaks, loud noises during operation, and widespread corrosion.
Although tankless water heaters aren’t impervious to hard water damage, they sustain far less of it. Given that they aren’t constantly holding and reheating water, they develop fewer mineral buildups and have fewer problems with rust and other corrosion. While the average lifespan of a tank water heater is 12 to 15 years, tankless water heaters can last 20 years or more.
There’s Also No Risk of Messy Tank Ruptures
Heavy buildups of sediment can cause an aging water heater tank to leak or rupture. When an old tank water heater empties its contents unexpectedly, it can damage your baseboards, floors, and sub-floors. When tankless water heaters malfunction or leak, you can mitigate or prevent property damage by simply turning your water off.
Tankless Water Heaters Require Less Maintenance
To slow and limit the development of hard water buildups, tank-based water heaters have sacrificial anode rods. Made from metal alloys, these rods travel the length of water heater tanks and attract dissolved minerals. They sacrifice themselves by corroding in place of tank materials. To keep water heater tanks rust-free, homeowners must replace their sacrificial anode rods every two to five years and flush their water heater tanks annually. Tankless water heaters don’t have anode rods to replace and they require less maintenance overall.
When Are Tankless Water Heaters the Better Choice?
Although they last longer, require less maintenance, and cost less to use, tankless water heaters are significantly more expensive than storage-based units. Some models are nearly twice as expensive as storage-based water heaters. In homes with lots of residents and high hot water demand, it’s often necessary to install two tankless water heaters rather than just one.
Tankless water heaters work well for households that use 41 gallons of hot water or less per day. If you have a modest budget for water heater replacement and lots of family members or plumbing-connected appliances, a tank-based model may be the better choice. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we can help you find the perfect water heater for your home based on your targeted price point, your water heating needs, and your goals.