These days, more and more homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their energy costs and make their houses more energy efficient. Since the cost of heating water can account for a significant portion of a household’s energy bill each month, one possible way to lessen the burden of hefty bills is to invest in a tankless water heater. Walter Tulecki is the proud owner of WT Mechanical, a Central New Jersey plumbing, heating, and cooling provider, and according to him, tankless water heaters do come with their share of advantages. However, tankless water heaters might not be for everyone.
Tankless water heaters work by heating water as it is used, as opposed to storing hot water. When a faucet is opened in a home with a tankless heater, water flows into the heater, and a sensor activates the heating process and brings the water to the desired temperature. Once a faucet is closed, the sensor automatically shuts down the heating process. Standard water heaters, on the other hand, work by constantly maintaining water at the temperature that corresponds to the setting on the tank, even if no hot water is being drawn or used. Some might assume that the water-heating process takes longer with a tankless heater. But in reality, it can take as little as five seconds to heat the water initially. So most people who switch from standard to tankless heaters don’t tend to notice a significant difference in the time it takes to heat water.
Tankless water heaters come with several distinct benefits. The primary advantage of tankless water heaters is that they are far more energy efficient than their standard counterparts. Homeowners who have tankless heaters can avoid paying for wasted energy being used to heat and store water in a tank that no one is using. Another benefit to tankless water heaters is that they offer a limitless supply of hot water. Since water is heated as it passes through the system, homeowners won’t have to worry about draining their tanks of hot water and finding themselves left with nothing but a cold stream during those extended showering sessions. Tankless water heaters are also known to last much longer than standard heaters; on average, they tend to last about twice as long. Finally, tankless water heaters take up much less space than standard water heaters, making them a more space-efficient option.
Of course, tankless water heaters come at a significant price, which is something that homeowners do need to take into account when deciding whether or not to go tankless. The cost of a tankless water heater can be double that of a standard heater. In fact, some experts say that the payback period for tankless water heaters can reach or exceed the 20-year mark when adding up the potential energy savings over the years and offsetting those figures against the initial cost of purchase and installation. And considering the fact that some tankless water heaters won’t last much more than 20 years, after all is said and done, the savings could end up being a wash. However, others will argue that the payback period is far shorter than 20 years, especially when taking the cost of replacing a standard water heater twice during that timeframe into account.
There are plenty of good reasons to invest in a tankless water heater; but for some homeowners, the upfront cost might make the option seem a whole lot less appealing. One final thing to consider before making a choice is that tankless water heaters can add a fair amount of value to a home. Buyers looking for energy efficiency are more likely to be drawn to houses with tankless water heaters than those with older, standard heaters.
So as you sit down to crunch those numbers, remember that tankless water heaters might pay for themselves in ways other than straight energy savings. And while the idea of paying for a tankless heater might seem financially overwhelming, remember that it’s not so easy to put a price tag on the idea of unlimited hot water for all of your showering needs.
