It’s estimated that, in the average home, heating and cooling take up about 54% of the annual utility bills. This is for a number of reasons; poor insulation is certainly one of them. This is why proper insulation can actually cut down on heating and cooling costs by over 40%. However, proper insulation is achieved through adding on the right components. For example, a programmable thermostat can save a homeowner $180 in energy costs each year. However, some additions or replacements are a bit more in depth than a thermostat. Often, the weak point in a home’s heating and cooling system is its water heater.
Many homes are still locked in to the same water heaters that they’ve always had — traditional heaters that are, if not completely outdated, not as efficient or effective as they could be. Unfortunately, many Americans don’t even have an idea of what kind of water heater they have, let alone whether or not should it be replaced. Tankless water heaters may not be on the mind of the general public; but they’re hardly a hidden secret in the heating and cooling industry.
What Is A Tankless Water Heater?
What exactly is a tankless water, and how does it different from a typical water heater? Essentially, a tankless water heater instantly heats water as it flows through a device, which is why it is sometimes called an instantaneous or instant-on water heater. In contrast, a traditional water heater doesn’t provide a continuous flow of hot water. Now, based off of that description the decision between the two may be obvious; however, tankless water heaters have their advantages and disadvantages like any other product.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Tankless Water Heaters?
If tankless water heaters provide a continuous flow of hot water — and the alternatives cannot — why doesn’t every consumer just choose them immediately? Part of the reasoning is that tankless water heaters do have higher purchase costs upfront, typically. At times, their installation can be expensive as well, especially if retrofitting is necessary. For that matter, it’s important that the “output usage” of a tankless water heater is properly calculated immediately. This is because, if the output is improperly calculated, the homeowner may not get the amount of hot water that they need. With that being said, a good installation company should be able to help homeowners calculate this properly, and proper installation would usually prevent output from becoming a problem.
What Are The Advantages Of A Tankless Water Heater?
The fact is that a tankless water heater’s main advantage returns back to the issue of efficiency. Like any great heating and cooling system, a tankless water heater an efficient option, which doesn’t needlessly expend unnecessary energy. This means that, though it may be more expensive to install initially, it will likely save homeowners more money over the course of its lifetime. In the same vein, they tend to last longer — some of them last twice as long as a traditional water heater. Because a tankless water heater can supply hot water to multiple outlets at once, homeowners won’t be inconvenience the way that they sometimes can be through traditional water heaters. A tankless water heater also heats up much faster than a traditional water heater. Finally, they tend to take up much less space than a traditional water heater, ultimately making them far preferable to a traditional water heater.
Certainly, a tankless water tank does take time and effort, as well as money, to have installed. However, it must be viewed as a long-term investment. With a longer lifetime and a more efficient operation, these water heaters will save homeowners more money, while also becoming a valuable part of a home’s entire heating and cooling system. However, it should be stated that they shouldn’t be installed by amateurs — an improper installation is one of the few things that can undermine a tankless water heater’s value. By working with the right heating and cooling company, however, a homeowner can ensure not only a proper installation, but a great investment.
