Why Go Tankless?

by Expert Contributor Ryan Corbett, Master Plumber and Co-Owner of Dream Team Home Services

You know that giant water heater tank in your home? Do you know you can get hot water from a much smaller tank that’s practically the size of a suitcase? Replacing a water heater can be a costly expense, so it’s important to consider the efficiency, cost, and expected longevity of a new one.

Traditional storage water heaters pull from the tank water that is constantly being reheated to remain at a desired temperature. (A typical gas-fired tank wastes 40–50% of the fuel it burns!) Tankless water heaters are able to produce hot water on demand: Water that gets pulled from the source passes through a heating element on it to the faucet.

Consider these PROs and CONs of a tankless water heater.

PROs

Going tankless gives your home an endless supply of hot water. A tankless water heater can deliver up to THREE gallons of hot water every minute, so you won’t have to wait long for hot water to start coming out of the faucet.

Tankless water heaters save a ton of space. They’ve also proven to be very energy efficient and can save you 27–50% compared to the cost to power tank-type heaters. And tankless heaters can perform effectively for 20–30 years, a much longer lifespan than the typical 10–15 years of storage water heaters.

CONs

Switching to a tankless water heater does have all those very positive benefits, but to fully understand the decision to switch, it’s important to also know the possible downsides. One is that if your water heater runs on electricity and you lose power due to a storm or a downed power line, you won’t have any hot water. A cold shower can surely wake you up!

Tankless water heaters also tend to have some output challenges when you want hot water for two or more reasons at the same time. For example, if the dishwasher is running and someone is taking a shower at the same time, the water output may decrease noticeably.

The last downside is that the initial cost for a tankless water heater and its installation can tend to be a bit pricey. If electricity is your only option for powering any type of water heater, the installation cost may be even higher than usual if your home’s electrical system must be upgraded to handle the energy requirements of a tankless water heater.

Tankless water heaters are still a fairly new concept, so many plumbers do not yet know how to properly install them. Overall, however, going tankless will provide you with the convenience of getting hot water quickly while staying energy efficient. The installation cost of going tankless may seem intimidating but it will save you money and time in the long run.

Expert Contributor Ryan Corbett, Master Plumber and Co-Owner of Dream Team Home Services

DREAM TEAM HOME SERVICES

610-215-9937

www.DreamTeamPA.com

Keep Things Flowing This Summer!

Make sure your home’s important systems are running smoothly, to keep you comfortable all summer long.

Schedule a visit from your home’s ultimate team!

• Emergency Heating Repairs • Heating System Replacements • Plumbing Repairs • Sewer/Drain Cleaning • Water Heater Replacement • Electrical Upgrades • Circuit Breaker Repairs