Your household in Springfield, IL, uses hot water for all types of essential activities. Taking a shower or washing the dishes just isn’t possible without enough hot water. When your current water heater needs to be replaced, you might consider going tankless. Before you make a decision on which water heater to buy, keep in mind these benefits and limitations of using a tankless water heater.
More Energy Efficient
For households that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, a tankless water heater is 24% to 34% more energy efficient than a conventional water heater. If your household uses 86 gallons of hot water daily, they’re 8% to 14% more efficient.
Instant Hot Water
Tankless water heaters heat the water as soon as you turn on the hot water tap. You don’t have to wait for an empty tank to refill. This is important for large households in which people take showers one after the other or when you wash load after load of laundry.
Longer Lifespan
Tankless water heaters have a lifespan of about 20 years, explains the Department of Energy. A lot of their parts can be repaired or replaced without needing a new water heater. The lifespan of a conventional storage-tank water heater is 10 to 15 years.
Supply Isn’t Limitless
Although tankless water heaters can supply two to three gallons per minute, their capacity isn’t limitless. If you’re running the dishwasher and someone takes a shower, there might not be enough hot water.
Inconsistent Temperatures
Some tankless water heaters have issues with inconsistent water temperatures. This usually results if two or more hot water taps are on simultaneously. If you just partially open a hot water tap, it might not trigger the water heater to turn on.
For more information about the benefits and limitations of using a tankless water heater, take a look at HRI Plumbing’s professional plumbing services, or get in touch with us today.
