Tankless or Traditional: Which Style of Water Heater is Better for Your Needs?
There are few investments in your home that are used as often as your hot water heater. As a result, if you want to replace yours, you should take care to ensure you are choosing the right replacement. One of the longest standing discussions in this space is whether a traditional or tankless water heater is best. The answer of course is that it depends on your priorities. Read on to learn more and then contact The Stanley Louis Company at 800-217-6527 for assistance.
Understanding Tankless Water Heaters
First, let us consider what a tankless water heater is and how it works. They are also known as “on-demand water heaters,” and they work quite differently than a traditional water heater. They have a high-powered burner installed that quickly heats water and then runs it through a heat exchanger. It then delivers the hot water directly to the water fixture. You can choose a gas or electric water heater.
Understanding Traditional Water Heaters
Your traditional water heater is like an insulated water tank. It can hold a substantial amount of water. The way they generally work is by heating water within that tank and storing it until you need it. Then a pipe pumps more cold water to the tank and the heating element heats it up. Another pipe takes the hot water out of the tank and to your faucet when it is needed.
The Advantages of a Tankless Water Heater
Compared to a traditional unit, a tankless water heater uses much less energy and less water. Why? Because instead of heating a large volume of water and keeping it at that temperature indefinitely, a tankless unit only heats what when you need it. This reduction in water means lower utility bills, which can help the unit pay for itself.
Compared to a traditional storage water heater, a tankless option also has a much longer operational lifespan. Folks who live in smaller spaces appreciate that instead of taking up an entire close as a traditional tank does, a tankless unit is much smaller and can be mounted to the wall. This allows you to install them in tight areas and away from sight. Finally, you get instant hot water with a tankless water heater.
The Disadvantages of a Tankless Water Heater
Of course, they are not perfect and are not right for every situation. The main issue is that they cost more than a traditional unit – in some cases, a lot more. The other issue is that if you have a small unit and are using hot water in several spaces at the same time (for example, someone is taking a shower while someone else is doing laundry and another person is washing dishes), it might not be able to keep up.
No matter which unit you decide to have installed, you can count on The Stanley Louis Company for help. Call us now at 800-217-6527 to get started.
