Let's Look at the Pros and Cons of Each?

 

More and more homeowners are choosing tankless, but is it the right choice for you?  Is it worth the additional expense? What really is the difference… they both heat water right?  We’ll explore the pros and cons here in this page.  Let’s start with traditional tank water heaters.

 

 

Pros of a tank-type Water Heater

While they are not as energy efficient as gas tankless water heaters, convention tank water heaters have numerous benefits, including lower overall cost, and tank water heaters installation is less expensive than tankless.

 

Easy replacement

Typically you’re just replacing the hot water tank for the same-sized unit. However, new Federal Energy Standards have increased the diameter size of a tank water heater.  A professional will have to ensure that the larger units will fit in the existing space when replacing.

 

Cons of a tank-type water heater

Traditional tank water heaters have been a reliable source of water heating for many years.  However, while tank water heaters are an efficient way to heat your water there are some cons if you’re considering replacing.

 

Higher energy costs

Since hot water is stored in the tank, the gas or electricity use, needs to run more than a tankless unit to maintain a constant 125˚-130˚ of hot water temperature. The temperature will be maintained 24/7 regardless of whether you need hot water or not.

 

May run out of hot water again

Once the hot water is used up in the tank you will not have any more hot water until the tank can recover back to the temperature setting. This can happen if you have multiple people or appliances using hot water at once.

 

Takes up more space

Tankless units take relatively little space, while a tank water heater needs space for the tank. Another thing to consider is that energy standards have required manufacturers to make tank water heaters wider to increase the insulation and hold heat better. Ask us about how this affects replacement.

 

Short life span

Tank water heaters usually last an average of 12 to 14 years, while tankless water heaters can last approximately 25 to 30 years. Gas tankless water heaters have grown in popularity in the last couple of years.  Here we will weigh the pros and cons of converting to a gas tankless water heater.

 

 

 

Pros of a Gas Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters are energy efficient and have many pros when upgrading to a gas tankless water heater.

 

Never run out of hot water again

Tankless will give you unlimited amounts of hot water over an extended period of time. Back to back showers, no wait times for water to reheat. You can also shower and run the dishwasher or washing machine without worrying about running out of hot water. Extremely effective for larger families.

 

Low energy costs

Tankless water heaters only heat water when it is needed. You will reduce your energy costs because you will only need to heat water as you need it. Consider the amount of energy it takes to keep 40, 50, or 75 gallons of hot water at a constant temperature, that can add up.

 

Less space means more room

While this seems trivial, we mentioned in the cons for tank water heaters that energy standards have made water heaters wider. Meaning, when it’s time to replace your water heater a new water heater that is the same size as your existing water heater, it may not fit in the same space the existing unit is located at. This alone may have you considering a tankless upgrade.

 

A longer life span

Tankless water heaters can last up to  25+ years if maintained. In most cases that may be double a tank water heater’s lifespan. So now that we’ve talked about the great qualities of tankless, let's discuss the drawbacks so you can weigh your options effectively.

 

Cons of Gas Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters do have some drawback that are described below: Higher installation costs

Tankless water heaters installation costs are more than a tank water heater.  Also, there may be some rerouting the plumbing pipes as needed to complete the upgrade installation. You should discuss your options, call us for free advice and helpful hints, 602-833-1533.

 

More Maintenance

Tankless water heaters are compact but have more internal parts than traditional water heaters. They also require maintenance at least once every two or three years to inspect and ensure proper operation. If you have hard water you may need additional maintenance to remove scale buildup or add a water softener.