Hot water is a necessity inside your home. This simple feature helps clean dishes, provides comfortable showers and even makes it more enjoyable to wash your hands. Although there’s no doubt about the usefulness of a water heater, it can be tricky to figure out what type of heater is right for you.
At Southern Air Mississippi, we’re here to tell you all about tankless water heaters. If you’re looking to upgrade or replace your water heater, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the types of families and homes that may benefit from a tankless water heater.
What Are Tankless Water Heaters?
Although you may be familiar with the term “tankless water heater,” you may not know how they work. To understand the differences between both tankless and tanked water heaters, it’s important to break down how each of these heaters works.
Tanked water heaters are a large tank that fills with hot water, which is then transported throughout your home through pipes. Cold water fills the tank, sinking to the bottom while the heated water rises to the top. These heaters come in different sizes that you can choose from depending on the hot water needs of your home.
Tankless water heaters also come in a variety of sizes, but they are typically smaller than tanked systems. They can be installed inside or outside of your home as long as they can vent properly. Tankless water heaters are sometimes called “on-demand” water heaters because they warm cold water as it flows through the heater when a faucet is turned on.
Pros Of Tankless Water Heaters
There are many benefits of installing a tankless water heater. If you’re wondering if a tankless heater is right for you, consider these advantages:
Increase Energy Efficiency
Tankless heaters are more energy efficient than their tanked alternatives. Since a tanked water heater has to constantly heat and reheat the water inside the tank, it ends up wasting a significant amount of energy over time.
However, a tankless water heater only heats water when a certain faucet or appliance is in use. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that tankless water heaters can be anywhere from 8%-34% more efficient than tanked heaters, depending on how much water a household uses and how many heaters are installed. This means that you’ll save money on your energy bills over time!
Save Space
Since tanked water heaters usually hold around 40-60 gallons of water at a time, they take up a lot of space. In contrast, tankless water heaters can be mounted on a wall and only take up a couple of square feet of space. If you live in a small home or you just want to save some more space, a tankless water heater might be right for you!
Avoid Frequent Replacement
Tankless water heaters last much longer than tanked heaters, especially since they are made of easily-replaceable parts. A tanked heater usually lasts around 10-15 years, but a tankless heater lasts around 20 years with proper maintenance. With repairs, your heater may even last a few years longer!
Who Shouldn’t Get A Tankless Water Heater?
A tankless heater is a great option for many people. However, there are a few things to consider before purchasing and installing one in your home.
Expensive Initial Cost
Although tankless water heaters save money through less frequent replacement and energy efficiency, they can be more expensive to purchase and install. If you’re looking for the cheapest option upfront, a tankless water heater might not be the best option.
Need For Multiple Units
If you use a lot of hot water at one time in your home, a tankless water heater might not perform well for your needs. Since the unit only has so much energy to heat the water, the need for a lot of hot water at once can result in lukewarm or cold water for one or more appliances, sinks or showers.
Certain homeowners choose to install a separate water heater for their dishwasher or washing machine to ensure their sinks and showers stay hot consistently. However, this is an added expense. Large tanked water heaters may be better at accommodating a high demand for hot water.
Installing Your McComb Water Heater
Are you looking to purchase and install a new water heater? Whether you go with a tankless or a tanked heater, Southern Air Mississippi is on the job. We love to help out our neighbors in the McComb area with all their hot water needs. Call us today to schedule an appointment!
