Regardless of where you live, a water heater is a necessary appliance to have in your home. If you want to be able to take a hot shower and wash dishes in hot water, then you’ll require a water heater. Hot water is even a necessity for washing clothes.
There are about seven different types of water heaters that you can install in your home. Of the multiple kinds of water heaters on the market today, the most common options are the tankless water heater and the traditional water heater. Let’s take an in-depth look at each to see which one fits your needs.
Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters, sometimes called demand water heaters, can heat water at a very fast rate by using a heat exchanger. The water flows through this component, and the internal gas burner or electric element heats it to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This permits the water heater to heat water on demand rather than storing a large amount of water in a tank and heating it at a more gradual rate. While the generation of heated water is nearly instantaneous, it can take between five and 10 seconds for heated water to reach the faucet.
Installation and Cost
While the cost of one of tankless units tends to be higher, they are notably more efficient and have a longer life than tanked units. Also, as a more efficient system of heating, the demand water heater cancels out the initial higher cost of the tankless system thanks to the regular monthly energy savings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), these water heating systems save homeowners, on average, about $44 per year.
The purchase price can also be lowered, as some towns and municipalities provide either direct rebates or tax credits for demand heaters. This is because governmental agencies favor these units for reducing carbon footprints. For those units that are gas-ignited demand water heaters, a continuously active pilot light can generate slightly higher energy costs. If you’re looking to reduce the potential of this happening, some water heaters have an intermittent ignition device (IID) that ignites the system on demand.
Performance and Reliability
These water heaters provide heated water at a rate of approximately 2 to 5 gallons per minute. As a general rule, gas-heated tankless water units produce water at a higher flow rate than electric element-based heaters. That said, electric-based heaters are more efficient and might be ideal for smaller households.
It’s essential to understand that, even with higher flow rates, it’s relatively easy to overtax a tankless water heater. This is because, when you’re running multiple appliances that use hot water, such as a shower and a washing machine, even the rate of 5 gallons per minute of hot water will quickly prove unsustainable. To counter this, households with high hot water demands might install multiple tankless heaters.
When it comes to reliability, on average, tankless systems typically last 20 to 30 years, which is significantly longer than other types of water heaters. With little to no repair costs with a newer water heater of this type, the tankless option easily pays for itself.
Advantages
Here are the benefits of a tankless water heater.
- Takes up less space
- Results in lower energy bills
- Requires little maintenance
- Provides instant hot water
Disadvantages
Here are the drawbacks of a tankless water heater.
- Higher initial cost
- Possibly inadequate for large homes
- Costly repairs
- Lower flow rate with higher demand
Traditional Water Heater
Also called a storage heater, a traditional, tanked water heater stores water rather than heating it on demand. Effectively, water enters at the base of the unit, at the dip tube level, and flows into a multi-gallon tank that is then heated to a preset temperature on the thermostat. The system pumps the water to where the residents of the home need it. The outflow of this type of storage heater happens at the top of the tank, which ensures the correct hot water distribution and keeps heat levels consistent.
Installation and Cost
With this type of water heater, you will need a pretty large space. In most situations, the water heater is installed in a kitchen or laundry room where there is an existing water line. This installation can easily cost less than other water heater installations, but that will depend on what else it entails. For example, if you need an electric line, a gas line, or a water line installation, it could cost more.
When the electricity is consistently reheating the tank to provide hot water all day, the cost that you skip with a traditional installation can become part of your utility bills. Depending on the design, a large tank holds between 30 and 80 gallons of water, so if your family takes a few showers a day or does laundry daily, refilling and reheating the water heater tank several times a day becomes necessary.
While storage water heaters are less efficient than demand systems, there are models that are ENERGY STAR-certified. Manufacturers increase efficiency by using better insulation, more efficient burners, and heat traps. These units can reduce the energy use of the water heater system by as much as 8%.
Performance and Reliability
The amount of hot water that is available to you is dependent on the size of the tank. Once all the hot water in the tank empties, you will need to wait for the water heater to provide more hot water. This means that the water in your shower could suddenly turn cold because the hot water runs out.
In addition, a traditional water heater may start needing repairs as early as six years after installation, and you may need to start replacing parts at the 10- or 15-year mark. Since these large tanks are more complex, the parts tend to need more maintenance. The removal of debris in the tank needs to occur as part of regular maintenance.
Advantages
Here are the benefits of a traditional water heater.
- Available in a number of sizes
- Can use multiple fuel sources
- Lower installation costs
- Heats large volumes of water at once
Disadvantages
Here are the drawbacks of a traditional water heater.
- Uses more energy
- Has a large footprint
- Takes time to heat the water
- Has a limited lifespan
Choosing a Reliable Water Heater
When selecting a water heater for your home, there is no one right option. There are several water heaters that could fit your needs. When choosing, consider the amount of space you have, the amount of hot water you will need, and your budget. At Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical, we can help you figure out the best option for your home. We have been serving the Phoenix area since 1976, and we provide plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling services.
If you have questions about your home’s systems, give us a call at Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical today for more information!
