Water Heater Replacement Options for Your Home

The Pros and Cons of Going Tankless

You might think heating or cooling is your biggest energy expense. But for most homes, water heating can account for as much as 30% of energy bills. Between bathing and showering, washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning, and other tasks, you could be paying to heat between 60 and 65 gallons of hot water a day.

If you have a traditional tank-style water heater that’s hitting the ten-year mark, it is probably not performing as well as it used to. That can compound the problem, resulting in higher energy bills and water that just doesn’t seem to get as hot. If you’re thinking it’s time to replace your water heater, you are also probably shopping for a model that rates high for efficiency.

Any new water heater will be more efficient than older technology, but for super efficiency and savings, you should also weigh your options and consider going tankless.

Tankless Technology Explainer

Tankless water heaters save energy by instantly heating water when you need it. They are also called “demand water heaters.” When you turn on the tap, water flows through the unit and is heated instantly by a propane-fueled heating element. When you turn off the tap, the unit stops heating water.

Compare this to the cost of operating a traditional water heater, which requires you to keep a tank holding many gallons of water hot and ready to use all the time. As a result, you can enjoy virtually unlimited hot water while seeing savings of up to 40%!

Imagine having virtually unlimited hot water while seeing lower fuel bills. With a high-efficiency tankless water heater, it’s possible. In addition to whole-house models, smaller versions can be installed where they are needed to generate hot water for an addition or for a spa tub, for example.

5 Reasons to Go Tankless

1. Unlimited hot water: Traditional tank heaters can run out of hot water if you use a lot at once. Tankless water heaters use electronic ignition and a hot propane flame to heat water instantly on demand. There’s no tank, so it can’t hit empty.
2. Savings: Tankless water heaters save energy by instantly heating water when you need it, rather than keeping a large tank hot all the time. All that efficiency means you’ll also save money by lowering your energy costs by as much as 40%. And we can help you take advantage of generous rebates from Rinnai.
3. Flexibility: With no storage tank, a tankless water heater is small. Even whole-house sizes take up considerably less room than a 55-gallon tank. Most are about the size of a suitcase. It can also be wall-mounted, which means a tankless water heater can be placed just about anywhere in the house, including closets and crawl spaces.
4. Longer equipment life: The primary culprit in the limited lifespan of a conventional water heater is the corrosive water stored in its tank. Because it doesn’t store water, a tankless water heater can last 18 to 20 years.
5. Compact size: Tankless water heaters are small. Most are comparable to an airline-approved roller bag. And they can be installed nearly anywhere, such as in a closet or under a sink. If your home has a basement, finding space for a 50-gallon tank may not be an issue. But if you don’t have a basement, that big tank uses a lot of valuable real estate in your home. Imagine what you could do with that closet space.

Any Downsides to Tankless Water Heaters?

Not really: A tankless water heater is more expensive to buy and install. But it can save you money in the long run, helping cut costs by as much as 40%. In addition, tankless systems are very low maintenance, particularly if you have soft water. Deposits and minerals in hard water can reduce performance and efficiency if you don’t flush the unit at least once a year and clean the filters.

On the other hand, a traditional tank-style water heater is inexpensive to replace, but it costs a lot more to run. Remember, you are using energy to keep the water hot for when you need it. And it can’t really deliver enough hot water for more than two or three showers in a row, assuming no one is washing dishes or using hot water for anything else. And while a bigger tank stores more water, you’re paying more to keep all that water hot.

Don’t Take Hot Water for Granted

Whether you decide to stick with a traditional tank-style water heater or update with a highly efficient tankless model, don’t wait for your water heater to fail to replace it. Like other essential equipment in your home, such as your refrigerator, life is no fun without hot water.

Ready to learn more about the benefits of a tankless water heater for your Tri-Cities home? The pros at Admiral can help you choose the best option for your needs, install it correctly, and provide maintenance and repairs. Enjoy energy efficiency and all the hot water you need with a new water heater!

Contact us today to get started.