If there is any home comfort system people take for granted, it’s typically their water heater—even though this is one of the appliances we all rely on the most! When it comes time to replace yours you’ll definitely notice it, but this isn’t a purchase you should rush into.
Whether you are looking to replace or you’re constructing a new home and purchasing your very first water heater, there are considerations to make. For instance, have you heard of tankless water heaters? It may serve you better than the traditional tank water heater by means of efficiency and savings. But that’s not to say traditional storage tanks don’t have their advantages. Read on to learn more.
The Tank Water heater
Tank water heaters are typically the most common that you’ll find in homes. One reason for this is because they do the job requires without costing you all that much money.
The tank water heater is that which uses a storage tank of water, and it comes in different sizes, by the gallon.
One drawback to the storage tank setup is that hot water that goes unused will suffer from standby heat loss. If your tank water heater is too big for your home or your household needs, then this standby heat loss means your heat exchanger keeps running longer than it needs to, and you’ll notice a spike in your energy bills.
Buying a tank water heater that’s too big could be just as inefficient as purchasing one that is too small.
Tank water heaters are versatile though. They can be either electric-powered or gas-powered. Both types can be affordable, and both fuel types have their benefits.
The Tankless Water Heater
This is the alternative to tank water heaters. The function in a fundamentally different way, as implied by their name—they don’t use a storage tank! Rather, tankless water heaters create hot water through electrical resistance, once you turn on a hot water tap or appliance and there’s a demand for it.
This makes tankless water heaters more efficient, in most cases, than storage tank water heaters. After all, no standby heat loss means no wasted energy. Plus, they last about 5-10 years longer than the average storage tank water heater, as long as they are well cared for and maintained.
One drawback, however, is that they can’t keep up if the demand gets too high. For instance, if you have a tankless water heater sized for two people when there are 4 people in your home, it can get overwhelmed if too many people are demanding it at once.
This is why it’s vital you work with a pro—our team will help you determine what the best water heater option is for your specific home and your specific needs. If you’re still unsure or want to find out more, please don’t ever hesitate to reach out to our team. We’ll answer any water heater questions you have.
To learn more about your options for water heaters in St. Louis, MO, contact Performance Plumbing today!