Disadvantages and Advantages of Tankless Water Heater

There are two basic types of water heater – storage and tankless, they both works as their names imply.

With a storage water heater, the water is kept and heated on site in a tank. The water in the tank is kept hot continuously by a heater. As you might guess, once the tank is empty it can take some time for it is full of hot water again.

A storage water heater does have some advantages at first glance, but these are all minor or eradicated over time. For instance, they are cheaper to buy and install – but this saving is soon lost due to higher energy costs. That need to always keep and a great big tank of water hot is very wasteful and expensive. Storage heaters have a steady flow of hot water – until the tank goes dry, and most of us know the annoyance of enjoying a shower only to have the hot water run out! The size of the tank can also be a disadvantage.

So the big disadvantages of traditional storage hot water heaters – expense and running out of both water and pressure need to be addressed.

This is where tankless water heaters come in. A tankless water heater heats water on demand. The cold water goes through a pipe into the tankless water heater. A heating element heats the water, and the water continues through the pipe out of the heater and to the outlet that needs the hot water.

There are plenty of advantages to going tankless

* Money.

 This is the big one. You’ll save a lot of money with a tankless water heater. It uses much less energy and so costs a lot less to run. A tankless water heater will easily pay for itself in savings over time

* Unlimited hot water.

In my childhood, we had storage hot water, and it seems every morning we had arguments over somebody using all the hot water. Cold showers aren’t fun, long hot showers are.tankless water heater

* Constant water pressure.

Storage heaters start out with good pressure, but as the tank empties, the pressure can drop. Tankless heaters offer constant pressure.

* Less physical space

* May qualify for a tax deduction.

Energy conservation is big these days and going tankless may even qualify you for a tax deduction.

While there is effectively no-contest in the storage vs. tankless choice, there is a minor disadvantage with tankless and that is they are a little more expensive to buy and install, but since that difference is made back many times over the life of the heater, the hip pocket favors tankless.

What to look for in a tankless water heater:

*Fuel Type

There are two kinds here, gas and electricity. The key factor is how your home is already configured for both, and so how much modification your home will need to accommodate the heater.

*Size and Demand

The more hot water outlets you have, the more flow you’ll need.

*Why Buy Online

Two main reasons:

* Price

 The best deals are found online

* Selection

 You’ll be able to choose from nearly every model on the market

* Convenience

 Check that you’re getting a good return policy and you can choose right now and get this task out of the way.

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Gas or Electric Water Heater

Both gas and electric water heaters can be considered for purchasing to help your home having hot water for showing, washing or everything you want to do. Here are the disadvantages and advantages for two kinds of water heater you should know:

Efficiency / Operating Cost

Electric water heaters cost much less than most tankless gas models. Moreover, gas prices tend to fluctuate more dramatically than electricity prices and most economists agree that gas prices are expected to rise significantly in coming years, whereas in most areas, electricity prices should be relatively stable or at least increase at a much slower pace. Ongoing operating costs are obviously an important consideration.

As a general rule, gas water heaters will cost about 10 to 15% less to operate than an electric water heater. This will depend greatly on the differential between natural gas or propane and electricity prices in your area. There are many regions where gas costs are extremely high due to the lack of supply in the area. In these regions, an electric unit can be significantly cheaper to operate. Remember, electric tankless water heaters are more energy efficient, so some of the cost difference between the fuels will be negated.

Gas or Electric Water Heater - Maintenance, Service Life, and Warranty

Electric water heaters require little maintenance. In fact, other than cleaning the inlet screen filter occasionally, electric water heaters require maintenance not often. On the other hand, gas heaters should be inspected annually by a trained technician to ensure safe fuel combustion and performance. In the event of a problem, electric units are inherently simpler to troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair and the simplicity of their design mean that they tend to last a lot longer.

Gas water heaters have very complex heat exchangers and fuel controls that are much harder to service in the field.

Homeowner Preference:

For safety reasons, some homeowners do not feel comfortable using natural gas or propane to power any of their household needs. In such instances, an electric water heater is a better choice for peace of mind. Other homeowners may have preferences for one type for other reasons, including the availability of energy (electricity or gas) in the event of a major regional emergency such as a natural disaster. Still, other users may prefer one type over another for environmental reasons.

 Electric water heaters are extremely energy efficient, with more than 98% of the energy supplied to the units is used to heat the water. On the other hand, gas water heaters have an energy factor of less than 85%. Gas water heaters of all types also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. In conclusion, each homeowner should evaluate his or her needs against the "pros" and "Cons" of each alternative.

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