How To Know If A Tankless Water Heater Is The Right Option For You

If your hot water heater is on its last leg, it is important to replace it before it goes out. If you wait too long and the device stops working, you will not have any hot water until you get the device replaced. As you plan to replace your hot water heater, you may be considering putting in a tankless system. While tankless systems have a lot of benefits, they are not always the right option for everyone, and here are several things you will need to consider before you choose this option.

How a tankless system works

A tankless hot water heater is often called a demand hot water heater, and this is because a system like this produces hot water as you need it. Hot water is not stored in a tank, like a traditional type of hot water heater, and it is only available when you demand it by turning on a faucet to the hot water setting.

The pros of tankless systems

Tankless systems offer a variety of benefits to homeowners, and one of the benefits is the size. Because there is no tank with a tankless system, you can install a tankless hot water heater in a very small area. This includes putting one underneath a sink, on a wall, or in a closet. You do not have this option with a traditional hot water heating system.

A second benefit is the cost savings you can experience with a tankless system. In most cases, a tankless hot water heater will use 30% to 50% less energy than a traditional system. Part of the reason this occurs is due to the nature of the system. When you store hot water in a tank, it naturally loses heat as it is being stored. As it loses heat, you spend more money heating it than what is really needed.

The cons of tankless systems

The key downside to a tankless system is the lower flow rate it may offer. If you have a large family and use a lot of hot water, you might find that there is never enough hot water when multiple faucets are being used at the same time. In other words, if you shower while the dishwasher is running, the system might not be able to keep up with the flow rate needed for both devices at once, and you may end up with a lukewarm shower.

Replacing a hot water heater is a normal part of owning a house, but there are a lot of different types of hot water heaters to choose from, and it is always important to choose the right type. If you have questions about this, contact plumbing contractors today.