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Understanding Water Heaters: Traditional vs. Tankless
Overview: There’s more than one way to heat the water on your property—but which one is right for you? In this blog post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of traditional and tankless water heaters. We’ll also take a look at gas and electric versions.
Highlights:
Traditional Water Heaters
Tankless Water Heaters
Gas-Powered Water Heaters
Electric Water Heaters
Most modern homes rely on water heaters to provide hot water for everyday tasks such as bathing, washing dishes, and doing laundry. These essential appliances come in two main types: traditional water heaters with storage tanks and newer tankless water heaters.
Choosing the right one for your home can significantly impact your energy efficiency, utility costs, and overall convenience, so it’s important that you know about the options available to you.
Let Lubbock A-1 Plumbing, LLC walk you through the differences between these two types of water heaters to help you make the best decision.
How Do Traditional Water Heaters Work?
Traditional water heaters, also known as storage tank water heaters, have a large tank that stores and preheats a specific amount of water, usually between 30 and 80 gallons. To put that into perspective, a 50-gallon water heater can provide enough hot water for several consecutive showers, dishwashing, and laundry loads without running out.
When hot water is needed, it’s drawn from the top of the tank, and cold water flows in to replace it, ensuring the tank remains full. The water is constantly kept at a pre-set temperature, which means the heater uses energy even when you’re not using hot water. We refer to this phenomenon as standby heat loss, the amount of energy used to keep your tank’s water at a certain temperature.
The Pros of Traditional Water Heaters
The benefits of traditional water heaters include:
- Lower initial cost: Traditional water heaters are typically less expensive to purchase and install compared to tankless models.
- Ease of replacement: Because they’ve been around longer, finding replacement parts or plumbers familiar with traditional heaters is easier.
- Simplicity: These water heaters have simpler mechanisms, making repairs generally quicker and less costly.
Cons of Traditional Water Heaters
One of the major drawbacks of traditional water heaters is their energy inefficiency. Because they need to keep the water in the tank heated constantly, these models end up using more energy, which can lead to higher utility bills.
Traditional water heaters also have a limited hot water supply. Once the hot water in the tank is depleted, you’ll have to wait for it to refill and heat up again. If you have a household with many people eager to take a hot shower, this could be something of an inconvenience!
Another disadvantage is their bulky design. The large storage tanks can take up significant space, making traditional heaters less suitable for homes with limited room or those trying to maximize their usable square footage. The more water you use, the more space you need.
Tankless Water Heaters: The Modern Alternative
Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand or instant water heaters, don’t store hot water. Instead, they heat water as it flows through the unit. These units are quite impressive inventions. When you turn on the hot water tap, cold water travels through a pipe into the heater, where gas burners or electric coils instantly heat it. This provides a continuous hot water supply without the limitations of a storage tank.
Save Space With Tankless Water Heaters
Because tankless water heaters are so compact, they’re ideal for homes with limited space. You’ll be able to install it in your basement, garage, utility room, or wherever seems appropriate. However, installing a tankless system may require modifications to your home’s plumbing, electrical, or gas lines, so it’s essential to ensure your home can accommodate one.
Plumbing adjustments might involve upgrading existing water lines to ensure adequate flow rates and pressure. Electrical upgrades may require a dedicated circuit or a higher amperage service for electric units. For gas-powered models, the gas line might need to be upgraded to deliver sufficient gas supply.
The Benefits of Demand-Type Water Heaters
For households that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, tankless water heaters can use 24% to 34% less energy than traditional storage tank water heaters. The benefits don’t end there, either.
Other benefits include:
- Longer lifespan
- Space-saving design
- Reduced risk of leaks
- Lower carbon footprint
- Precise temperature control
Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
As great as modern water heaters might be, though, they definitely come with their share of drawbacks.
Cons of tankless water heaters include:
- Higher initial cost: The upfront expense for a tankless water heater and its installation is generally much higher.
- Complex installation: Installing a tankless system may require upgrades to your home’s electrical wiring or gas line, which will increase the initial cost.
- Inconsistent temperature: If multiple outlets demand hot water simultaneously, the unit might struggle to maintain a consistent temperature.
Gas vs. Electric Water Heaters
When choosing between a gas and an electric water heater, several factors come into play, such as your home’s energy infrastructure, your budget, and your preference for energy efficiency.
Gas-Powered Water Heaters
Gas-powered water heaters, whether traditional or tankless, are known for their fast heating capabilities. Because natural gas heats water more quickly than electricity, these units can be more reliable for larger households or homes with high hot water demands. However, they come with some drawbacks. There are higher upfront costs, and you need proper ventilation to ensure safety.
Electric Water Heaters
Electric models (available in both traditional and tankless options) are often easier and less expensive to install. Electricity-powered units are typically more energy-efficient because they don’t lose heat through venting, but this bonus of added energy efficiency doesn’t matter as much if you’re already using a tankless unit.
If you’re powering your traditional heater with electricity, though, it may take longer to heat water. For smaller households or homes where energy efficiency is a top priority, electric water heaters can be a solid choice.
Learn More About Water Heaters With Lubbock A-1 Plumbing, LLC Plumbers
Choosing a water heater is a significant decision, and consulting with a professional plumber can help ensure you select the right system for your home. One of Lubbock A-1 Plumbing, LLC’s plumbers can evaluate your household’s hot water needs. We’ll inspect your plumbing while taking into account your household’s needs, the square footage, and more.
All you have to do is contact us at (806) 796-0206 to request our services.
