Traditional Water Heater vs. Tankless Water Heater
We recently informed you about the warning signs that your water heater is about to fail. So if you’re in the market for a replacement, you have some options. Two of the most common types are the traditional water heater, that most of us are familiar with, and a tankless one. To help you narrow down your search, here are the pros and cons to both:
Traditional Water Heater: A traditional water heater stores and preheats 30-50 gallons of water in a tank. That preheated water is used whenever someone showers, does the laundry or washes dishes. The tank then refills to be reheated once again.
Pros:
Lower initial cost: A traditional water heater installation can be half as much as a tankless water heater.
Easy and less expensive to replace: Less installation complications means that there’s less that can go wrong.
Cons:
Higher utility bill: Since these types of water heaters heat and reheat water at a pre-set temperature regardless of your water needs, your utility bill is typically higher.
They’re bigger: Traditional water heaters occupy more room and can not be placed outside.
Shorter lifespan: Traditional water heaters usually last between 10-15 years. Since there is more turnover, you need to buy them twice as often as a tankless one.
Tankless Water Heater: A tankless water heater uses a heat source to warm up cool water on-demand whenever you need it.
Pros:
Saves money in the long run: For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, tankless water heaters can be 24-34% more energy efficient than traditional ones, according to Energy.gov
Easier storage: Tankless units are small and have more options for installation places.
Longer life: Typically a tankless water heater lasts up to 20 years, which is nearly double the time of a traditional one.
Hot water on demand: Two to three gallons of hot water is provided on demand with these water heaters.
Cons:
Higher initial cost: These units cost more to purchase, as well as more to be installed. Retrofitting adds to the installation cost, making this more of an initial investment than a traditional water heater.
Deciding on which unit is best for you is a personal decision that depends on your lifestyle, water usage and budget. If you find that you are in need of a water heater repair or replacement, turn to the professionals at A.B. May.
