Water heaters are one of the costlier investments that most homes need. It will be in your home for a long time, so you want to get the right one.
The annual cost of running a water heater goes at around $781. This accounts for around 20 to 22% of the common household budget for a year. If you want to cut down on this there are many solutions available for use.
One of the best choices for this is a demand-type water heater. If you take a look at the tankless water heater vs tank water heater, is there a difference? Which one is better for your home long-term?
Today, we’ll pick apart the difference of tank storage vs instantaneous water heaters or tankless water heaters.
1. How Tankless Water Heaters Work
How do tank and tankless water heaters work? There’s a difference with the mechanics of either style, but they have the same function.
For a tank water heater, a drip tube brings in cold water to your storage tanks. This water goes on to get heated by either a gas or electric burner. Gas uses a direct flame to heat a tube in the tank, while electric uses heating elements inside the tank.
When the water comes in contact with the tube or heating elements, the water heats up. It will then rise up to your plumbing and to your faucet or your shower.
A tankless water heater uses this electric element or gas to heat water straight up. You don’t have to wait for your tank storage to fill up before you can use any hot water. You will get a hot, consistent stream of water as you need it.
When talking about tankless water heater vs tank, this is the main difference. This provides different advantages with customers, depending on their needs.
2. Differences in Energy Efficiency
The primary advantage of using tankless water heaters is energy efficiency. Homes that use 41 or fewer gallons of water can get more out of these water heaters. These homes can be as much as 34% more energy-efficient than conventional heater tanks.
Even in homes with high usage, they can get between 8 to 14 percent extra efficiency. If you use hot water a lot in your home, investing in a demand-type on every water source can save money. You can save as much as 50% of your energy consumption if you do so.
For storage tank water heaters, they can be expensive long-term due to inefficiency. Storage tanks heat and reheat water depending on a thermostat. Once the water goes back to a specific temperature, it will keep heating.
All this is irrespective if you need the water or not. Sure, you will have a good amount of hot water as you need it but this will increase your utility bills. The winter will only make storage tank heaters worse.
They would need to work harder because of the colder water. On the other hand, tankless water heaters can fail if you demand too much out of one unit. Doing laundry and shower at the same time with hot water can overwhelm the heater’s flow.
3. Cost of Tank vs Tankless Water Heaters
One of the primary challenges of tankless water heaters is the level of investment you need. In general, you would spend a couple of thousand dollars at the very least. The upper limit will be somewhere around $4000 – $5000 to buy and install.
For storage tank water heaters, the cost will be much less. You’re looking at $500 to $1000 to buy and get a professional to do the installation. If you’re going tankless, you need to understand that this is a significant long-term investment.
Even then, going tankless will save you a significant amount of money with its lower operating cost. This low energy cost can offset the higher cost long-term. Tankless will also save you a good chunk of money from its life expectancy.
Tankless water heaters can last for more than 20 years in service, with easy to replace parts. Tank water heaters last for 10 – 15 years and would need replacement by 20 years.
4. Considering Space Constraints
Another difference between tankless water heaters vs tank heaters is the space they consume. Tanks would need a large enough space to store water it will heat. This can be problematic, especially for homes in the city where space tends to be a premium.
Tankless water heaters do not need as much space as these containers. You can install them in tighter quarters and you can even install outside your home. This is great for apartments and even smaller homes in the city.
5. Who Needs Tankless vs Tank Water Heaters?
Who needs a tankless water heater? Who needs a tank storage water heater?
For people who have issues with their budget or space constraints, the tank storage heater is easy. If you need to install the product as soon as possible, tank storage can be quick work for pros. A timeline constraint can also push you towards having a storage tank heater instead.
If you are looking towards the entire installation long-term, going tankless is the way to go. Sure, the upfront investment will be more expensive, but tankless water heaters will save money over time. It can save you as much as $1800 per year on heating alone.
If the extra cost of going tankless is not a problem, then get that option. The entire tank pays for itself over the next few years from the savings you will get. The sheer value of the installation is a great pick for its entire lifetime.
Decide Between A Tankless Water Heater Vs Tank
If you’re considering tankless water heater vs tank, you need to consider the benefits of each one. Tankless water heaters are an investment but can give you good long-term value and performance. If you have time and budget constraints, using a tank water heater is your best bet.
If you need a water heater installation, you need a professional that can do superior plumbing.
We provide the best residential and commercial plumbing services done right. From heater installations to pipe repairs in Salt Lake City, we can do it for you.
Call us now and see how you can get the best plumbing service in the city. Top-quality guaranteed!
