Tankless water heaters are a great way to lower energy bills, maximize the space in your home, and use water in a more environmentally friendly way. Tankless water heaters provide on-demand water heating where hot water is not heated and stored in a large tank. In other words, tankless water heaters provide water as needed, which means there is a virtually unlimited supply! They are also becoming the preferred choice of water heaters for plumbers and homeowners alike!
What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
Tankless water heaters heat water instantaneously without the use of a storage tank. When someone in your home turns on the faucet, your tankless heater will immediately get to work on heating the water flowing through. In fact, if someone in your home takes a long shower, you wont have to wait until the hot water tank has resupplied. A tankless heater provides hot water at an average rate of 2-5 gallons per minute.
A traditional water heater has a large silo holding 30-50 gallons of water and is heated by natural gas or electricity. If all of the heated water is used at one time, it will take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to fill up with hot water again. Keep in mind that while you have instantaneous hot water at the flip of a faucet, you are also paying to keep this water hot whether you are using it or not. A home with a tankless heater won’t face the issue of delayed hot water. Many homeowners who make the switch to tankless hot water heaters opt for one of the following industry-leading brands:
- Rheem
- Bradford White
- Rinnai
- Navien
Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters
Many homeowners are making the switch to tankless hot water heaters for their energy efficiency and unlimited heating capabilities. Let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages of switching to a tankless water heater:
- Energy efficiency
- Consumer reports have found that tankless water heaters are, on average, 22% more energy efficient than gas-fired tanks.
- Cost Savings
- The average traditional water heater can cost from $500-$700 on average while a tankless heater will generally range from $550 to $1,150 with an additional charge for installation. Consumer Reports found that even though the model and installation costs are higher for a tankless heater, the energy consumption costs are lower for both gas and electric models.
- Endless hot water supply.
- Not limited to your tank’s storage capacity, tankless heaters offer unlimited hot water supply.
- Compact design and space-saving benefits.
- For homes without basements, like those in San Diego, extra space is hard to come by. Tankless water heaters, unlike traditional heaters, save valuable space in the home.
- Longer lifespan
- Tankless heaters are expected to last 20 to 30 years, which is double the lifespan of a traditional water heater.
- Lower long-term maintenance needs.
- Along with fewer maintenance and repair needs, a tankless system will likely easily have replaceable parts that are covered by warranty.
How to Decide If a Tankless Water Heater Is Right for You
Most properties can benefit from a tankless hot water heater, but understanding what makes a property a better fit for a tankless heater is important when choosing your home heating system. Energy.gov found that for homes that use less than 41 gallons of hot water daily, a tankless heater could be 24% to 34% more energy efficient than a traditional tank heater.
With your water usage in mind, also think about your current system’s average repair and maintenance costs. If your traditional heater is costing you hundreds in repairs, it may be time to go for an updated tankless system with parts warranties. If your traditional heater is relatively new and doesn’t need repairs often, it may be advantageous to stick with it until it starts to wear out. We would also recommend consulting with a professional plumbing company that could give you installation and system quotes and maintenance.
Popular Tankless Water Heater Brands to Consider
Plumber-recommended tankless water heater brands to consider include:
Rinnai:
Rinnai heaters are often chosen for their advanced technology, namely for features like the control•r™ 2.0 mobile app for remote scheduling and vacation mode. Rinnai water heaters have also been found to have a lifespan up to twice as long as traditional tanks.
Rheem:
Rheem heaters are known for their reliability and affordability with smart home technology integrations. They also are designed to minimize energy consumption while maintaining high performance.
Bradford White:
Bradford White tankless water heaters are known for their reliability and features that extend the lifespan of their heaters. Innovations like Vitraglas® tank lining help with enhanced corrosion resistance.
Expert Water Heater Replacement and Installation
Looking to make the switch, or even just learn more? Talk to your local San Diego professionals for honest and informative advice on what system might be right for you. We are experienced technicians in water heater replacement, water heater repair and water heater maintenance. Contact us today to go tankless!
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