Know All the Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless Water Heater Prices & Installation Costs Are Soon Recovered

Most of the time, you probably don’t give a lot of thought to your water heater. After all, like most home appliances, if it’s doing what it’s supposed to, then out of sight, out of mind. But if your current water heater is reaching its last legs or you’re looking for a more energy-efficient water heating solution, then it may be time to give an on-demand – or tankless – water heater a serious look.

For starters, what the heck is a tankless water heater? In short, it’s a heater that replaces the existing tank type water heater you’re used to seeing in your furnace room or basement – or your parents’. Instead of storing heated water in a tank until it’s needed, tankless water heaters only heat water as it’s needed.

The Pros to Using a Tankless Water Heater

There are a variety of advantages to going tankless:

• Long-lasting: Thanks to rugged construction and materials, they typically have a long life expectancy and operating costs are usually very low. Plus, because most models have replaceable parts, there’s less of a long-term impact on the environment.
• Endless hot water: While storage tanks are limited by the size of the tank – as you’re coldly reminded early in the morning after all your kids shower before you do – tankless water heaters can provide continuous hot water as long as there’s fuel or energy to heat it.
• Energy conservation: As soon as water sits in a tank, it begins to lose heat and that means a traditional water heater is continually turning on and off to keep water warm and ready to go. With tankless, because water is heated quickly and only when it’s needed, it’s more energy-efficient. In fact, our condensing models start at an energy factor of 0.94, which means 94% of the fuel is being used to heat the water and only 6% is wasted. A tankless water heater can lower your energy bill.
• Space saving: With the high price of real estate, many of us are tending to live in smaller homes and tighter space means that a giant 40- or 60-gallon storage tank that’s 5 feet high and 2 feet wide isn’t exactly convenient. A tankless water heater, on the other hand, hangs on a wall up and out of the way, providing more usable space on the ground – imagine more space freed up in your cottage, bathroom or basement.
• Reduced eco-impact: Tankless water heaters not only reduce consumption of non-renewable fuel sources, they’re repairable with replaceable parts, unlike traditional water heater tanks that often need to be replaced entirely.

The Cons to Using a Tankless Water Heater

While the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, there are still a few issues to think about:

• Installation costs: With a switch in any technology, you may pay some initial upfront costs to get a tankless heater, both for the water heater itself and for the installation. Also, tankless water heaters often require new venting and gas lines as part of the installation. However, the additional costs begin to be recovered upon installation, with the energy savings of not constantly re-heating water in a tank.
• Water output: While a 60-gallon tank filled with hot water is definitely wasteful it’s also undeniably convenient, particularly when your household needs include showers, laundry and a dishwasher, often at the same time. A tankless water heater is more efficient but its output is also more limited, which is why it may make sense to install more than one in your home – Reliance offers a variety of models to fit your needs and lifestyle, as well as a recirculating unit that can reduce your water usage.

Rent or Buy?

Finally, if you decide to switch to a tankless water heater, you’ll also want to consider whether to rent or buy. Buying a water heater will involve upfront costs but no rental fees and you’ll be responsible for the cost of maintenance and repairs. Renting from Reliance Home Comfort^® means you can take advantage of a Water Heater Rental plan, which offers free standard installation as well as long-term protection for an affordable monthly price.