If you’re in the market for a new water heater, you may be wondering if a tank or tankless model is right for you. There are advantages and disadvantages to both tank and tankless heaters, so it can be tough to decide which is the best option. Read on as we look at the pros and cons of tank and tankless water heaters to help you decide which one is the smart choice for your home and family.
The main difference between traditional tank water heaters and tankless water heaters is, as you may have guessed, the tank. A tank water heater stores hot water in a cylinder storage tank, while a tankless model heats water on demand. Common energy sources for water heaters are natural gas and electricity with some homes using solar or geothermal heat for efficiency.
A tank water heater has a tank that stores hot water and works on the principle that heat rises. Inside the insulated storage tank is a plethora of inner components that work to heat up incoming cold water. The tank is connected to a cold water supply and a gas or electric heat source. As the cold water is fed into the storage tank the heater starts heating the water. As the water heats, it rises to the top of the tank flowing out of the tank and into your sink, shower, or bathtub when you need it.
A tankless water heater is a type of water heater that doesn’t use a storage tank. Instead, it heats water as you need it. Tankless water heaters are usually powered by gas or electricity and use a powerful heat exchanger to raise the temperature of incoming cold water on demand. When you turn on the hot water, the tankless water heater starts heating the water right away. The heated water then flows through your pipes to the faucet or showerhead at the preset temperature.
As the most common type of water heater, tank water heaters have a lot to offer most homeowners. There is a wide range of options so let’s outline the pros and cons of a tank water heater for your home.
Tank water heaters have a few advantages over tankless models:
However, storage tank water heaters have a few disadvantages that you should be aware of:
A properly sized tank water heater for your home and life will need to meet the needs of everyone in the household. To determine the size tank water heater you need, you first need to calculate your peak hour demand. This is the amount of hot water your family will use during the busiest hour of the day.
To do this, add up all of the appliances and fixtures in your home that use hot water and multiply each one by its gallons-per-minute (GPM) flow rate. The sum of those numbers will give you your peak hour demand. The Energy Guide Label on your water heater should tell you a capacity or first-hour rating (FHR) or how much water the heater can supply per hour. The FHR should match or exceed your household’s peak hour demand. For instance, if your peak hour demand is 66 gallons then you should look for a tank water heater that meets or exceeds that number for FHR.
Here are some basic average estimates for how many gallons each appliance uses:
Shower per use20 gallonsFood Prep3 gallonsAutomatic Dishwasher7 gallonsClothes Washer15 – 25 gallonsTank water heaters typically last around eight to 12 years, but with proper maintenance, they could last up to 15 years. Tank water heaters need to be regularly maintained by flushing the tank and checking the anode rod to prevent corrosion.
Read Next: How Long Do Water Heaters Last?
Installing an electric tank water heater costs an average of $2000 to $3500. A gas tank water heater average cost is between $2500 to $5500.
Tankless heaters come in two types: point-of-use and whole-house heaters. Point-of-use tankless water heaters are small and only heat water for one area – like a kitchen sink. Whole house tankless water heaters are larger and provide water to multiple showers, sinks, and appliances. There are also condensing and non-condensing tankless water heaters. Condensing tankless water heaters reuse the exhaust gas to further heat the water, reducing heat loss while non-condensing tankless water heaters exhaust most of the excess heat outside.
There are a number of advantages to tankless water heaters:
There are some downsides to a tankless water heater that you should consider:
Gas tankless water heaters are more expensive and can start at $8000 and up.
This is determined by a number of factors including the tankless water heater’s GPM (gallons per minute) and the temperature rise you need. Calculate the heaviest household water usage and the temperature you want your water to be at. For example, if you are running a shower, a dishwasher, and a faucet at the same time and want to raise the groundwater temperature from 52 degrees to 110 degrees, then you would need a tankless water heater with a flow rate of 6 to 7 GPM.
If maintained regularly by a professional a tankless water heater can last up to 20 years. Regular maintenance of a tankless water heater is important to prevent mineral and hard water build-up on the heating elements that will shorten its lifespan.
Read Next: 10 Noticeable Signs that Your Water Heater is Going Bad
Both tank and tankless water heaters have a gas or electric option for an energy source. Each type of energy source has its pros and cons:
Now that you know the difference between tank and tankless water heaters, which one is right for you in the long run? If you’re looking for an immediate installation with little to no maintenance, a tank water heater might be your best bet. However, if you’re interested in saving money on your energy bill and having a water heater that will last longer, you might want to consider a tankless heater.
While tankless water heaters have a higher initial cost, they often make up for it in the long run with their energy efficiency. If you’re not sure which option is right for you, be sure to consult with a professional before making your final decision.
Read Next: How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Water Heater?
There are many factors that go into deciding when to replace your water heater and Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning experts are here to guide you. We carry a variety of hot water heaters so that your home or business has the best and most efficient water heaters around.
Avoid extra costs and fewer repairs by scheduling a maintenance check for your existing water heating system before issues arise. No matter what you need, we’re always just a phone call away.
Whether you are in the market for a new water heater or simply have questions about your current one, Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help. We’ve been servicing the Portland area for over 70 years and our experience shows in the quality of our work. Give us a call today!
When it comes to installing a water heater for your home, there are two main options: tank or tankless. And you may wonder, is one better than the other? Ultimately that depends on your specific needs and preferences. This blog post will compare a tankless water heater vs tank and help you decide which is the best option for you!
Before we get into tank vs. tankless water heaters, it’s essential to understand the purpose of a water heater. A water heater is an appliance that uses either natural gas, electricity, or propane to heat water and store it in a tank. This way, you always have hot water readily available when you need it— cause nobody likes a cold shower. Water heaters will also ensure all your bathroom and kitchen sinks have hot water so you can wash your hands and face and wash your dishes.
Some homeowners may wonder if their boiler and water heater do the same thing. They don’t. A boiler uses hot water to heat your home. This is applicable in homes that utilize radiator or baseboard heat. On the other hand, your water heater ensures hot water can run from your faucets and showerheads.
There are a few different types of water heaters, including:
conventional
tankless
heat pump
condensing
solar
Conventional water heaters are probably the ones you’re most familiar with. They include a tank that can hold anywhere from 20 to 50 gallons, depending on the size of your household and how much water you might use. But tankless, heat pump, condensing, and solar water heaters are also very viable options.
Heat pump water heaters are actually the most energy-efficient type of electric water heater. They use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly.
Tankless water heaters are also a very popular option for many homeowners. Tankless or on-demand water heaters do not have a tank that stores hot water. Instead, they heat water as you need it. Tankless water heaters are very energy-efficient because they only heat water when you need it instead of continuously heating and reheating a tank of water.
Solar water heaters use the sun’s energy to generate heat, then heat up the water in a tank. Solar-powered tankless water heaters are also available—these work by using the sun’s energy to heat water on demand. Solar water heaters are an excellent option for people looking for an environmentally friendly and efficient way to heat their water.
Condensing water heaters are very similar to standard water heaters in that they store water in a tank and use the same technology to heat the water. However, they work differently in that they use the hot exhaust gasses from a natural gas or propane burner to heat up the water. Condensing water heaters are very energy-efficient because they transfer more of the heated water to your home than a standard storage-tank water heater, reducing wasted heat usage.
Now that we’ve gone over the different types of water heaters, let’s compare the two most commonly installed water hearts: tank and tankless water heaters.
One is not necessarily better than the other, but you may greatly prefer one over the other depending on your budget, needs, and water usage. But first, weighing the pros and cons of a tank vs. tankless water heater can help you make a much more informed decision.
Conventional tank storage water heaters are used in the majority of homes today. They are affordable to replace, easy to maintain, and readily available— plus, most plumbers can install them quickly and easily without additional training. But while no applicant is 100% perfect, there are equal parts, good and bad, with a conventional tank water heater.
Pros:
They are relatively affordable, having a lower initial cost than most other types.
They are straightforward and user-friendly.
Repairs cost less than most other types of water heaters
Easy to install— just about any plumber can install a standard tank storage water heater without additional training
Very easy to maintain
Cons:
They are not very energy-efficient and can produce high utility bills
If your water heater is in a cold basement, it will need to work extra hard to heat or re-heat your water, causing higher energy bills.
They take up more space than tankless water heaters
They can “run out” of hot water. If you have a large family taking shower after a shower in the morning, the last person will likely have a cold water temperature.
They only last 8-12 years and need to be replaced more often than tankless
They can collect sediment that makes them run less efficiently
So while tank storage water heaters remain the most commonly installed, when you consider their benefits vs. downfalls, you may see why tankless water heaters seem to be a more viable option. But let’s see why.
Tankless water heaters do not store water in a large tank. Instead, they heat water as you need it via a wall-mounted box. Tankless water heaters are very energy-efficient because they only heat water on demand instead of continuously heating and reheating a tank of water.
Pros:
They have a much longer lifespan than tank storage— lasting 20-30 years with proper maintenance!
They are very energy-efficient— tankless water heaters can save you up to 40% on your energy bills.
They take up much less space than tank storage water heaters
You never “run out” of hot water with a tankless unit
They provide an endless supply of hot water
They provide faster hot water than a storage-tank system, so you won’t be waiting for it to heat up at the faucet
Cons:
The upfront cost is higher than tank storage— but tankless water heaters last much longer, so you even out in the long run
They require more maintenance than tank storage— but this is typically just an annual flush to remove any built-up sediment.
Areas with hard water can lessen their lifespan. Consider getting a water filter and placing it before the tankless heater to remove some of that harsh mineral water.
It may need to be retrofitted, so that can cost more in labor and installation.
They can struggle to keep water hot if you’re doing two things at once: taking a shower and doing laundry, for example.
Now that we’ve laid out the similarities and differences between tank and tankless water heaters before you take the plunge, either way, consider the following factors:
How much space do you have for a water heater? Tank storage takes up more space (4 cubic feet) than a tankless water heater (wall-mounted) but may be a better option if you don’t have a proper space on the wall for one. However, if you have a small utility closet that could be better utilized for storage, consider replacing your tank water heater with a tankless for that vital floor space.
What is your budget? Short-term and long-term? Because tank water heaters cost much less, they can be perfect if you’re in a bind and need a replacement right away. However, a tankless water system can be your best option for an immediate investment that saves more money in the long run.
How much water does your household use? If you’re just a couple living in a small home, you can get by with a 20-30 gallon water tank. Meanwhile, a family of 4-6 may need something closer to 50, 60, or even 80 gallons. This is something your local professional can help you assess.
Do you live in an area with hard water? As we mentioned, tankless heaters can have a shorter lifespan if they’re constantly heating hard water. If this is the case for your home, consider getting a whole-house water filter to place in front of your tankless system to pre-filter the harsh water before it enters and corrodes your tankless heater.
At this point, hopefully, you’ve gathered enough information to determine which route you want to go. Even if you have, it’s always best to discuss all of your options with a professional plumber like 4Front Energy. You can’t beat their expertise when it comes to choosing the best water heater option for your home.
If you require professional, reliable water heater installation, 4Front Energy has got you covered. Not only do we provide tank and tankless water heater installation and replacement services, but we excel in every other plumbing service under the sun. We can even help with your next bathroom or kitchen remodel.
We love helping homeowners get the best possible plumbing solutions for their needs and budget. Just reach out to us to get started on your quick and easy water heater installation.