Now-a-days we are trying to make things more energy efficient. Tankless water heaters are growing in popularity as homeowners are beginning to realize how cost saving they are. They have a longer life span and lower operating costs. The following will help you decide if you need to upgrade your water heater and invest in a tankless water heater.

What Are They?

Unlike conventional water heaters, tankless systems store hot water in a central tank for future use. They heat water inly when a hot water faucet is opened. These are commonly just stored in the maintenance room, but some homeowners choose to have them placed closer to where there is a high demand for hot water. This is a great idea, especially if your shower or kitchen sink are farther away from where your traditional water heater would be stored.           Traditional, tank-based water heaters usually only have a lifespan of about 10-15 years, and come with a warranty of 4-6 years, depending on the manufacturer. Tankless water heaters can lasts 20 years or more.

Things to Consider

Here are some things to consider before making the decision to go tankless:

  • Demand: Do you want a unit to heat water in one bathroom or the entire house?
  • Type: Consider the requirements. An electric model will need the proper voltage, amperage and circuit breaker. Gas-fired models need to be vented.
  • Location: They must be within roughly 50 feet from a power source, and can be mounted on an interior or exterior wall.
  • Life expectancy: Most last more than 20 years — about twice the lifespan of storage water heaters.
  • Installation: Hire a highly rated plumber or heating and A/C contractor to install it. Often, the installation is included when you purchase a unit from a dealer.

They Pay for Themselves

Tankless water heaters are more expensive than conventional units, but keeping 40 gallons of hot water or more on hand, all the time, to fulfill all your household needs is expensive, too. Tankless systems only use power when they are in use. Heated water cools off as it sits in the pipes. That’s where the tankless water heater pays off. Instead of heating water and then it getting cold, the tankless water heater is controlled by demand. The United States department of Energy states that tankless water heaters save an average of $200 a year compared to tank water heaters.

Making Choices

If you are currently building a house or going to be, you should definitely talk to the contractor or builder. If your household’s hot water demands are high and you want to address your current system’s shortcomings, you should think about adding a tankless unit at strategic points in your home. Traditional water heaters with 40 to 60-gallon capacity are generally around 60″ tall and 24″ wide. Tankless water heaters, in comparison, might be the size of a large computer. Approximately 20″ wide by 28″ tall and just 10″ deep. These are things to consider when looking into buying a tankless water heater.