Tankless water heaters are specially designed water heating systems that do not have a hot water storage tank. Instead of heating water and storing it in a reservoir, tankless water heaters heat water on demand, which is why they are also called on-demand, demand-type, or instantaneous water heaters. Tankless water heaters heat water directly after being switched on and supply it to the house. Once you turn on a tankless water heater, cold water flows through the connecting pipe into the heating element. This can be a gas or electric heating element. Typically, gas-powered tankless water heaters have a higher flow rate than electric water heaters. Most tankless water heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2-5 gallons per minute. The main advantage of installing tankless water heaters is that they provide hot water constantly and they are also very efficient. And although conventional storage water heaters are still the most popular models in the United States, many homeowners are now opting for the more efficient tankless models. Today we are going to look at the advantages and disadvantages of installing a tankless water heater.
Advantages Of Tankless Water Heaters
As mentioned above, one of the main benefits of buying a tankless water heater is that it’s very efficient. Tankless water heaters do not have a storage tank for holding the heated water. These hot water storage tanks are prone to standby heat loss. In other words, hot water stored in these tanks loose heat energy to the surrounding environment thereby making them very inefficient. Tankless water heaters give you more value for your money in the long run because they reduce your energy bill by as much as 35% annually. Another advantage of installing a tankless water heater is that it provides hot water constantly and continuously. Tankless water heaters are very reliable because they do not run out of hot water like the conventional storage models. Tankless water heaters are very durable with warranties of up to 20 years. Conventional storage water heaters last half as long as tankless models. Tankless water heaters are also very versatile to install. They have no hot water storage tank and hence require less space to install. Tankless water heaters are also very safe to use because they are only switched on when in use unlike the storage models, which are always on. Modern tankless San Diego gas water heaters come with many innovative features for monitoring water flow and water pressure levels, which enhances their safety.
Disadvantages Of Tankless Water Heaters
The main disadvantage of tankless water heaters is cost. These water heating systems cost more to buy and install than standard storage tank models. In fact they cost double the price of the equivalent storage tank model. Another disadvantage of tankless water heaters is that their output limits their flow rate. This means that you might not be able to get enough hot water to furnish all your needs using this model. Tankless water heaters are not able to provide enough hot water for simultaneous multiple household uses especially in large households. If you have a large household or require multiple hot water usage, you will have to install two or more tankless water heaters to solve the problem. And if you live in a place where there is hard water, then you need to install a water softener in order to protect your tankless water heater.
More information pertaining to San Diego gas water heaters can be seen here.