3 Things You Should Know About Tankless Water Heaters

Heating your home’s water is a necessary expense. Between running the dishwasher, multiple loads of laundry, and teenagers who never get out of the shower, utility bills can quickly add up. Seeking out a more cost-effective and energy-smart way to heat their water, many homeowners consider a modern alternative to their traditional storage tank water heater: tankless water heaters.

The Benefits of Going Tankless

Tankless water heaters, at first glance, have it all. Where a storage tank heater takes up about as much room as a baby dinosaur, a tankless water heater can be as small as a carry-on suitcase. That frees up a lot of space in your closet or basement. A tankless water heater can even be installed outside, getting it completely out of your hair.

In addition to its convenient size, tankless water heaters aren’t constantly running like your storage tank model. They only heat your water as you need it. In addition, they even boast a higher lifespan than traditional storage tank heaters.

3 Things to Consider Before Investing in a Tankless Water Heater

We wish we could shout from the mountaintops that tankless water heaters are leagues ahead of storage tanks heaters, and much friendlier on your wallet. However, while they certainly present many appealing benefits, tankless water heaters certainly aren’t the best fit for every household.

Can your gas line take it?

At any given time, a storage tank water heater uses around 50,000 BTU of gas to be constantly heating your water. A tankless water heater, though, heats your water on demand, instead of steadily over time. This instantaneous heating can require as much as 200,000 BTU. In many cases, to use a tankless water heater, you’ll also have to install a bigger gas line to use that much gas at once.

Unlimited hot water—but with limited output

Only so much water can flow through the heater at any given time. This means that while a tankless water heater never technically “runs out” of hot water, it can only yield so much at any given time. If you’ve got two showers going, the dishwasher running, and a load of laundry in, your system may not be up to the challenge.

Annual Maintenance

To prevent buildup within your tankless water heater, your system should be flushed once a year. Be sure to factor in the cost of technician visits in before installing a tankless system.

Our team at Triple “T” Heating, Air, and Plumbing wants our customers to be able to make informed decisions about their water heaters so that they are knowledgeable about the product they select. Give us a call if you need help selecting a water heater that meets your needs. Our friendly technicians would love to help you find the most efficient model for your household.