Strengths And Weaknesses Of Tankless Water Heaters

Let’s face it, no homeowner wants to stand around waiting for our water to heat up. It hurts to watch our precious resource run down the drain. Tankless water heaters, also referred to as on-demand water heaters, can solve that problem. While the standard storage tank heater heats and reheats your water, on-demand heater delivers hot water on demand. The technology is said to date back to 1929, but it wasn’t until the last 30 years that makers have refined the technologies. In Europe, the heaters are now the standard for both homes and businesses. Over the last decade, the product has made inroads into the US market, and the rest is history. Manufacturers such as Bradford White, AO Smith, Bosch, and Rheem have poured themselves into improving the appliance.

Gas-Powered Tankless Water Heaters Were 22% More Efficient

Home and business owners believe in tankless water heater’s reliability, convenience, and without question, the energy savings it produces. With that said, some drawbacks need examining before making a purchase.  In a study conducted by consumer reports, the savings over gas-powered tankless water heaters were 22% more efficient compared to traditional storage tank heaters. Nevertheless, there is a snag, the condition for the heater must be right for it to be the best option. We’ll look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of tankless water heaters.

Water On-Demand – Strength

The most significant benefit is the speed at which hot water is delivered to your shower head or faucet. In most cases, within just a few seconds, and as soon as the cold water is flushed from the pipe, hot water is delivered. There is no more waiting for the water to get warm while gallons of water wastefully run down the drain. As a result, instant water is provided without the use of bulky storage tank heaters.

Erratic Temperatures – Weakness

In the Consumer Reports, erratic temperatures were mentioned as one of the biggest complaints against the water heaters. The water heaters had difficulty delivering enough water to all locations in use at one time. It’s essential to have an accurate measurement of peak water usage times when making a tankless water heater purchase. A larger unit or more than one tankless water heater may be best for your home usage.

Longer Life Expectancy – Strength

The life expectancy of a tankless water heater is 20 years or longer. In the case of a storage tank heater, you can expect 10 to 12 years. In both cases, those numbers can increase with regular maintenance. The life expectancy of a tankless water heater is significant when comparing costs. The value of tankless water heaters is taken into account over many years of energy savings.

Cost Much More – Weakness

While the heater itself does not necessarily cost a whole lot more, the labor is much more extensive, so you must factor in labor fees to the overall cost. You can pay two or three times the price of a storage tank heater, depending on the installation.

Never Run Out Of Hot Water – Strength

Everyone has experienced running out of hot water, and nothing is worse than enjoying a hot shower only to have the water go cold. Tankless water heaters provide an endless stream of hot water and will never run out as long as showers are taken consecutively.  For example, the RINNAI RUR199IN can produce 9.8 gallons of hot water per minute, which is more than enough water for two or three people showering at once, but the cost is significantly more.

The Hot Water Is Limited – Weakness

While the hot water supply is endless, it does have some drawbacks. For instance, as mentioned above, unless a larger heater or more than one unit is installed, hot water cannot heat more than one or two locations at once. Other than that, they’re equipped to keep a steady stream of hot water.

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