One of the biggest appeals of a tankless water heater in Waynesboro, VA, is that it provides on-demand hot water. Other differences between tankless and traditional water heaters come down to size, lifespan, and energy efficiency.
1. On-Demand Hot Water
The design of tankless water heaters allows them to provide on-demand hot water. Rather than storing hot water until you need it, as traditional water heaters do, tankless models heat the water when you turn on the hot water faucet. You’re less likely to run out of hot water with this type of water heater.
2. Size
Tankless water heaters are much smaller than traditional water heaters. Their compact size not only frees up space in your home but also looks more attractive. A plumber can install your tankless water heater on a wall where it’s out of the way.
If you have a large household, you may need two tankless water heaters to keep up with your higher demand. This is especially important if you frequently use hot water in multiple areas of the home at the same time, such as two people showering while a third person does laundry.
3. Lifespan
Tankless water heaters last around 20 to 30 years, whereas storage tank water heaters last around 10 to 15 years. If you plan on living in the same house for decades, a tankless water heater is worth considering.
4. Energy-Efficiency
Storage tank water heaters aren’t as energy efficient as tankless water heaters. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that a tankless water heater is 24%–34% more energy efficient than a traditional water heater in households that use 41 gallons or less of hot water every day. For homes that use 86 gallons of hot water every day, a tankless water heater is 8%–14% more energy-efficient than a traditional water heater.
Either choice in water heaters is a good one as long as you choose a high-quality brand and a knowledgeable plumber for installation. Contact Valley Air Heating, Cooling & Plumbing to discuss installing a new hot water heater in your Waynesboro, VA, home.
Image provided by iStock