Three Reasons to Upgrade to a Tankless Water Heater

Modern technology has given us the ability to not only enjoy a more reliable and comfortable home, but a home that’s also more energy-efficient and does more while consuming less. Your water heater is perhaps one of the biggest examples of this. Beyond your heating and cooling systems, your water heater is one of the biggest energy consumers in your home, and one of your biggest out of pocket expenses. However, for years you essentially had to deal with the costs because there simply wasn’t a better alternative. While efficiency improved and refill times fell, the technology didn’t change all that much. That’s no longer the case today.

Tankless water heater technology has completely revolutionized the way we produce and use hot water in our homes. These ultra-efficient systems deliver not only more consistent hot water, but more of it and for far less money than our old systems ever would have cost. There are plenty of benefits of making this switch, but there are a few which are the primary drivers behind homeowners making the jump to tankless technology. Here are three of these reasons.

BETTER LONGEVITY

When you buy a new car, you expect it to last, right? Very few people buy a new car with the expectation that they’re going to wear it out after several years and just replace it outright. In fact, modern car buying trends have shown a remarkable turn in behavior towards keeping cars longer, driving them for many more miles, and investing in repairs to keep them going rather than throwing them away and buying new ones.

This same principle is similar to the logic behind many homeowners switching to a tankless water heater. A traditional tank-style heater generally has an expected lifespan of around eight to ten years, at which point the tank will spring a leak, and you’ll need to replace it completely. There’s simply not much you can about it. However, tankless water heaters don’t have to keep a tank of water stored up, which means they don’t face this same problem. Instead, tankless water heaters can be fixed by a skilled plumber and maintained to stay working at their best ability. As a result, these systems have lifespans that last for decades, often three or four times the lifespan of a traditional tank-style heater. In fact, for many people, a tankless water heater is likely the last water heater they ever need to buy again for as long as they own their home.

INFINITE CAPACITY

It’s a busy morning: the kids are all up and getting ready school, your spouse is preparing breakfast in the kitchen while running the dishwasher, the laundry machine is filling up, and you’re left with the last shower of the bunch. You flip on the water to find out the worst has come true: your water heater is empty and you’ve got nothing but lukewarm or cold water left. While most modern water heaters generally can refill and reheat in as little as 20 minutes to a half hour, life would certainly be a lot better if you didn’t have to deal with this problem.

Well, if you’re sick of running out of hot water, the good news is you don’t have to deal with it anymore. Tankless water heaters don’t store a tank of hot water and refill after you stop using it. Instead, they produce the hot water as you need it by carrying a smaller amount of water through a heating coil that brings it up to temperature. This produces the hot water that you need on-demand, and then sends it throughout your home. As long as your system continues to work properly and your water connection remains active, you’ll never run out of hot water again!

BIG SAVINGS

Because these systems only pay to heat the water one time, they actually use far less energy than their tank-style counterparts. No more paying to have a tank heat up to temperature, slowly cool off, and then have to heat back up again until you’re ready to use it. Instead, your system turns on when you turn on your tap, meaning you don’t burn any energy to heat your water until you turn on the tap. That alone saves you a bundle on your monthly energy costs.

Likewise, because you don’t have to replace these systems nearly as often, you’ll save the money from having to replace your water heater every decade or so. Between these two factors combined, a tankless water heater usually pays for itself in the span of about the typical life of an average tankless water heater. Who doesn’t like a self-funding upgrade to your home?

Interested in making the switch to a tankless water heater system? Call our San Mateo plumbers at Bell Plumbing at 650-206-7672 for a consultation and find out how a tankless water heater can help you!