Having problems with you old hot water tank? Thinking of switching and wondering are tankless water heaters worth it. We can help.
On average tankless water heaters are worth the cost. They have a longer life span than conventional tank type water heaters and can save you money on energy bills as they only produce hot water when it is needed. Another name for these heaters is know as hot water on demand.
This is not to be confused with lower electricity rate or of peak style heaters so read on to understand.
1.Are Tankless Water Heaters Worth It
Let’s talk about the two types of tankless water heaters you are considering.
The most popular tankless water heaters are on demand tankless water heaters.
The first of the two types of tankless water heaters is on demand so it is attached to the tank. Usually a thermostat inside the home can be set to control this kind of water heater.
This kind of water heater can be switched on and off as often as needed to control the water temperatures in the home.
The benefit of these systems is that they do not generate heat until hot water is needed. So when it is time to shower or do dishes, you can rely on hot water without worrying about your heater being on for hours.
2.Are tankless water heaters worth it for large families
I remember years ago we had a large family of 4 plus my wife had a son, so we had to use water tanks that were not only large but also heavy.
To save money we were heating water in both of them. This was in New Jersey where most houses were heated with coal and oil and all day long it was very cold and not very comfortable.
These tanks also took up room and caused one to be more careful not to drop anything down inside the tank. These big tank heaters also had to be tested monthly and there was never enough space to do that. If we had a power outage we had no heat for all those days!
Now we have electric tankless water heaters and the best thing is they come with dual controls and take up less room.
3.Do you really save money with a tankless water heater?
The biggest benefit to a tankless water heater is having hot water at the touch of a button. The energy saving alone is the most important part. These heaters also last much longer than tank heaters, about 10-15 years. Even more than traditional hot water boilers which usually have a lifespan of 2-7 years. A tankless water heater has the added benefit of saving on water heaters by not running water continuously when no one is in the bathroom.
There are two questions to answer regarding a tankless water heater and are tankless water heaters worth it. 1) What is the age of your pipes and if you have cold temperatures? If your pipes have been previously modified, you may need to do some research on water heaters that meet your old plumbing guidelines.
4.What are the disadvantages of a tankless water heater?
They can be expensive because they are typically more to install than traditional tank type water heaters. Tankless water heaters come with the possibility of clogs due to the condensed water vapors that are produced.
One can will have to be cleaned regularly in order to avoid this. They can be installed over a traditional water heater. It is important to know that they cannot be plugged into a standard electric outlet but need direct control of the output. If your heaters in your home are on a timer then you will need to have a separate timer for a tankless water heater, too.
5.Do tankless water heaters increase electric bill?
In general tankless water heaters are a good investment in terms of cost and efficiency. There are some important costs associated with having a water heater though.
These costs include the initial cost of the tankless water heater itself. The cost to the utility company to provide them with a “demand charge” on their bills and of course, the ongoing cost of energy.
So when you have that hot water that you are trying to preserve for you and your family, don’t forget to consider the impact of additional bills.
What are the different tankless water heater models?
Tankless water heaters come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, styles and at an array of prices. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages.
6.How much does it cost to convert to tankless water heater?
Tankless water heaters are no longer niche products but have been manufactured in huge numbers. The price tag varies and varies by size. The price of one of these water heaters comes out to be about the same as a standard water heater.
What are the advantages? The tank contains only 10 percent of the volume it would in a regular water heater. This means that less water is needed in order to heat the same amount of water.
Another advantage is that they are much smaller than tankless water heaters. The range of a tankless water heater is about 16-24 inches and can fill up a 10 gallon tank in about 2 minutes.
7.Can you run out of hot water with a tankless water heater?
You can only use the hot water produced in the hot water tank during the hours you set or will not have water on demand.
Why should you consider a tankless water heater?
You can use all the hot water you want (when it’s available). Providing the timer is on all the time then no you will not run out of hot water.
You can fill the hot water tank on demand.
One can have a tankless hot water heater installed under the house or in the basement to make the water hot at all times.
You can run multiple heaters at the same time.
You can install them on older homes with heat pumps or natural gas heaters
Your water heater can be as large as you want.
You can purchase these heaters at any time of the year.
They are very efficient and a good investment.
The benefit to you:
They are more energy efficient
They are very efficient and a good investment.
8.Can a tankless water heater fill a tub?
In fact, tankless water heaters can. So if you want to use your tub to soak or shower then you can use it as long as you have a tankless water heater installed. Most tankless water heaters need the hook up to have hot water available at all times. If you do not have a working shower or tub at the moment then get a tankless water heater installed right away.
If you have a hot water pipe you should have it tested before switching to a tankless water heater. A good water heater should be able to fill a tub with hot water with no problems.
How Tankless Water Heaters Work?
A tankless water heater is basically a heated water tank that is fed from a different heating source than the hot water that you need at the time.
9.Are tankless water heaters loud?
Tankless water heaters are not as noisy as you might imagine. In fact, for those of you who are concerned that a tankless water heater will be as noisy as a hot water heater, we have some good news.
Generally speaking they are very quiet while running.
Where are tankless water heaters best for you to buy?
We have the answer, click here to answer.
How many tanks do you have?
Can you even install a tankless water heater?
In the UK, most insurance companies will not insure your property if the water heater does not provide hot water.
10.What is the average lifespan of a tankless water heater?
Generally, tankless water heaters have a lifespan of 10-15 years. The popular brand names are Hudson, Veolia, and Legrand. These tankless water heaters have a wide operating temperature range from 212 to 572 degrees Fahrenheit. The use of such low temperatures are limited to space saving purposes and maintain temperature which saves on energy costs.
How to choose a tankless water heater?
Though tankless water heaters have more features compared to tank water heaters. It is not a must have when shopping for a new tankless water heater. It is better to go with a model that offers the most features at an affordable price. If you have budget and can invest, you can go with the tankless water heater models that have the capacity to heat water to a higher temperature.
11.Can a tankless water heater work for the whole-house?
Tankless water heaters work for whole-house applications but they are not going to work for every type of home. This applies to tankless heaters that are big (over 7 gallons of hot water) as well as small (under 7 gallons of hot water). What are the drawbacks to using this type of water heater. You need to decide what type of home you have, and what size water heater you need and the age of your home.
If you are not using a tankless water heater, you can still save some money by making sure the faucets in your house are the correct type. That can save you around $3.00 to $5.00 every month.
If you are replacing a central heating system, tankless water heaters may not be the best option as the electrical costs would be much more than a conventional water heater.
12.Are tankless water heaters expensive?
An average tankless water heater is about a dollar a day or 4.3 cents a kilowatt hour. This is not to be confused with hot water on demand off peak which can range from 0.25 to 3 cents per kilowatt hour.
How much money can you save?
According to the experts, those who use their hot water on demand can reduce their consumption of electricity by up to 60 percent.
Which type of water heater do you have?
Are you considering switching your tankless water heater to a heater which is full of hot water during the day and then turns off when it is not needed? These are called peak style heaters.
13.How often do you need to replace a tankless water heater?
A tankless water heater consists of a tank, a controller, an outdoor unit that connects to your water line and a space in your house to heat the water. The entire unit can be replaced at anytime as long as your tank is still functional.
If your heater has a large tank, the heater has to be replaced at least once per year. If you only have a small unit, the heater will last longer. Since then I have changed the external tank to be made of copper rather than plastic.
At the height of my use, I ran it two to three times per day and you could count on the heater coming on during the hours when I would be gone. During the winter months I only turned it on before 10:00 am and sometimes didn’t turn it off until 3:00 in the morning.
Generally id you are careful, clean the heater and do your maintenance you can get upward of 20 years out of one.
14.Do you need an electrician to install a tankless water heater?
If you don’t have the knowledge or experience to install a tankless water heater yourself you will need to hire a licensed plumber or electrician to do the job. Some smaller tankless heaters can just be plugged in as larger ones will need a hard wired connection. In this case you will need an electrician.
A licensed plumber and electrician will ensure that your heater is properly wired and that there are no hazards or hidden dangers. Once they have completed the job, you can proceed to have the water heater installed. This is an ongoing job so make sure that you have all the facts first.
What if the Hot Water Heater Pump Breaks Down?
Your home’s water heater is designed to last for decades and be a reliable source of hot water but you must not forget the most important part of the machine. Your heating element is the most critical part of the water heater and you have no control over it unless it is replaced. Hoped this article helped you better understand are tankless water heaters worth it.
