As people aim to make their homes more-and-more energy efficient, tankless water heaters are becoming increasingly popular in U.S. homes. In contrast to standard, tanked water heaters, tankless—or “Demand-Type Water Heaters”—use far less energy, heat water as it’s needed, last longer, and don’t carry the risk of a burst tank and a flooded home. A tankless water heater might be the right fit for your home.
In our latest blog post, we’ll break down the benefits of tankless water heaters so that you can decide if one is right for your home. Here are some reasons to consider a tankless water heater:
- They’re energy-efficient
In most homes, the water heater can account for up to 30% or more of your energy use. That’s a significant contribution to your monthly energy bills, and if you have multiple family members under one roof, that percentage could be even higher. All those morning showers add up—and that’s not to mention laundry, dishes, the dishwasher, and washing your hands in the sink. An electric water heater will push your energy bills much higher, and that’s one of the main appeals of a tankless water heater: energy efficiency.
Since tankless water heaters heat water as it’s needed, they don’t waste energy keeping water at a certain temperature until you’re ready to use it. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that most households see a 24-34% boost in energy efficiency with a tankless system. That can add up to more than $100 per year for most households. Over the more than 20 years the water heater is in operation (we’ll get to that in a minute), those savings can add up to offset the higher cost of buying a tankless water heater instead of a standard one. But, tankless systems have other advantages.
- You’ll no longer have to worry about running out of hot water
Since tankless systems heat the water as it flows through the system, they can supply a virtually unlimited supply of hot water to your home. If you have a family with multiple members who need to take a shower in the morning before work or school, a tankless water heater means that you won’t run out of heated water for these consecutive showers. You can even start a load of laundry or the dishwasher in the morning after everyone has showered. While no one wants to waste water, it’s nice to have hot water available when you need it.
This is in contrast to a standard water heater, which holds a certain amount of hot water in its tank. Once that hot water has been used up, you’ll have to wait for the supply to replenish itself.
- Longer system lifespan
Most tankless water heaters last about 20 years, although many last longer than that thanks to designs that allow for a professional plumbing team to easily replace worn parts and components. In contrast, most standard water heaters last, on average, between 10-12 years. The strain on tank-based systems is far greater, and constantly holding a supply of hot water can cause corrosion, rust, and cracking. Tankless systems don’t have this problem, and they usually last far longer.
In this way, tankless water heaters justify their higher cost in most cases: the increased energy efficiency, paired with only needing to purchase one system in the time you might have bought two standard water heaters, adds up to huge savings.
- No risk of a tank bursting
This is a major benefit of purchasing a tankless water heater. A tank burst is every homeowner’s nightmare: a water heater failure and break in the tank could cause your home to flood with rusty water, or—even worse—cause a fire to break out. The risk of a water heater tank burst increases with the age of the tank. If you have questions about the state of your standard water heater, consider giving the Allbritten plumbing team a call.
Tankless water heaters do not carry this risk. There’s no tank to burst, and most of the systems come with an automatic water shutoff that will stop the flow of water to a system that leaks. If your older, standard water heater bursting is something you’ve worried about, consider the peace of mind that a tankless water heater can bring.
- Allbritten can professionally install your tankless water heater
If it’s time to replace your old, standard water heater, consider a new tankless system from Allbritten. Our professional team of plumbers will expertly install this new advanced system in your home, and we back our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. To learn more about our selection of tankless systems and get a quote, contact our team online or give us a call at (559) 601-0833.
