Should You Get a Tankless Water Heater?

What Is a Tankless Water Heater?

Tired of high utility bills from inefficient water heaters? Tired of running out of hot water halfway through a shower? It’s ok. Most people are. Most people don’t know there is a clever way to take care of these problems and several more.

Tankless water heaters are new alternatives to the traditional water tanks found in most homes. Tankless water heaters use powerful burners or heating elements to heat water on demand instead of storing heated water in a tank for future use. This allows the water heater to sit idle instead of constantly topping off the heat in the water tank.

Tankless water heaters take up far less space than a water tank and are generally more reliable. So why isn’t everyone making the switch? Due to unfamiliarity, most homeowners and plumbers aren’t quite ready. Here are a few reasons why switching to a tankless water heater is the right choice for nearly every home.

Signs It’s Time to Replace an Old Water Heater

A great opportunity to look into tankless water heaters is when the conventional water tank has failed.

Some of the signs that the current water tank is about to quit are:
  • The tank is more than seven years old
  • Rust is forming around the water heater
  • Discolored, cloudy or rusty water is coming from fixtures
  • Thumping or hissing noises are common around the water heater
  • Leaks are ruining walls and floors near the water heater
  • Utility bills have slowly risen

How a Tankless Water Heater Works

It may seem obvious, but a tankless water heater has no tank. A normal residential-sized unit is comparable to the size of a kitchen cabinet. Inside the tankless water heater, powerful gas burners or electrical resistance coils heat water in a heat exchanger that contains flowing cold water.

Besides the lack of a tank, the big difference between tankless water heaters and water tanks is that they only work when needed. Flow sensors are located in the unit when water flows out of a faucet or shower. This causes the burners or heating elements to come on and quickly heat water as it flows out to serve the plumbing fixtures in the house.

Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

  • More Reliable: Because tankless water heaters sit idle for longer, there is less wear and tear on their parts. This means that they are less likely to have problems in the future.
  • Better Warranties: Being more reliable also means that they will last longer. Tankless water heaters have longer warranties than water tanks because they are inherently more reliable and less subject to problems.
  • Energy Savings: Sitting idle means that tankless water heaters aren’t using energy. This leads to lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint for the home.
  • Comfort: Tankless water heaters are loved most because they offer endless hot water. Once the burner comes on, it will stay on until flow through the pipes stops. This means showers can last as long as necessary and still be just as warm.

About Anderson Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric

Don’t rely on just any plumber to upgrade a home to a tankless water heater. Get help from the experts and Anderson Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric. Call today for tankless water heater installation services from highly-qualified technicians in Mentor, OH.

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