The short answer is MAYBE! But it depends on many variables. There is much to learn and be aware of in the world of hot water heaters. You might assume that you will get endless and instant hot water if you invest in a tankless system. Well, not so fast…you might not. There are many considerations, such as how often and how long hot water is used, the number of people in your home using hot water, and the location of the hot water heater in relation to the plumbing fixtures. In some homes, it can take several minutes to get hot water to a second-story bathroom across the house and a tankless water heater alone won’t change this. This is one of the many reasons you should consult with a professional plumber and get several quotes from other plumbers so you’re not bamboozled.
Another factor with tankless systems is that they can require more maintenance, such as servicing the tankless heater multiple times a year. Some common issues and maintenance concerns for tankless water heaters are mineral buildup and demand overload. Demand overload is when you have installed a tankless water heater designed to supply 7.2 gallons per minute (GPM) of hot water. If you use one or two fixtures at a time, it can provide endless hot water, but if you have multiple people or appliances using more than 7.2 GPM at one time, it will cause the water heater to restrict the flow so it can supply the desired temperature.
This may sound like a lot of potential issues, but it just highlights the need to make sure you are taking everything into consideration before making a change to tankless and don’t just buy into the advertisement.
The latest tankless water heaters are quality-efficient products that have their place where they are the right choice. If you are using a large amount of hot water throughout the day and are looking to be more efficient, then this may be the system you are looking for. Overall, they use less energy and can be more efficient. Depending on how much water you use daily, a tankless water heater can be as much as 30% more efficient than a typical tank-type water heater.
However, considering tankless systems can be more than double the price of a traditional tank-style water heater, you need to consider how long you are planning on staying in your home and how much hot water you use. Additionally, unlike standard gas tank-type water heaters, tankless water heaters cannot provide hot water if there’s a power outage.
If this sounds like a case against tankless water heaters, it isn’t. We just want everyone to understand the limitations of tankless water heaters, where they perform the best, and to be sure you don’t have expectations that can’t be met.
Tankless or tank-style? Your friends at Lorenz can help you learn what would be the best type of water heater for you. They will look at all the variables to determine if tankless could be a worthy investment for you. Don’t sweat about this decision. Lorenz Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning will provide you with enough information to decide what is the best fit for your home or business.
