There’s nothing worse than going to take a warm shower, only to realize that your water is taking a long time to heat up — or worse, not coming out at all. It’s common for many homeowners to wait until their water heater fails to replace it. However, waiting to search for options until an emergency situation occurs will usually leave you with little to no time to shop around for the best water heater for your home.
If your unit is a traditional tank water heater that is more than 10 years old, you might want to consider upgrading your unit to a tankless system — because it just might be the last water heater you buy.
If you’re debating whether to make the switch, the expert plumbers at Arlinghaus have compiled this handy list of things to consider when choosing the best water heater for your home, family, and budget.
Limitations with Traditional Tank Water Heaters
While traditional tank water heaters are usually more affordable, they also come with several limitations that are important to consider.
First, traditional units tend to be less energy efficient (only 60 – 65% efficient on average) because you’re paying to heat and reheat your water. The amount of hot water being heated is also limited to the tank capacity (about 50 gallons of water in an average residential tank). Additionally, these units require a significant amount of room in your home, which means less storage space for you.
Furthermore, the heat and pressure of traditional water heaters can accelerate corrosion on the unit. If your unit is more than 10 years old, it’s likely there’s already a decent amount of sediment collected at the bottom of your tank, which requires 70% more fuel to heat the water. This build-up is what eventually causes a delay in getting your water to heat up, and eventually, what causes the unit to burst.
Benefits of Going Tankless
In contrast, tankless water heaters provide an endless stream of hot, clean water in your home; because of how these units are built, they are also much
less likely to leak.
Another great benefit of a tankless water heater is the amount of space they save. These units can take up a third of the amount of space as a traditional water heater, providing you and your family with room for more storage. Tankless water heaters also are wall-mounted several inches off of the ground, making them ideal for basements prone to flooding.
Finally, because they leverage updated technology, tankless units also provide environmental benefits – they lead to a 35% drop in greenhouse gasses and are 96% energy efficient (36% more efficient than a tank-style heater).
Ultimately, making the switch to a tankless water heater can ensure your home has warm clean water for many years. To learn more, give our skilled plumbers a call today and let them help you make your home a “happy house.”