Water heaters are one of those home comfort systems that are really easy to take for granted, right? We rely on this part of our plumbing system the most, but if they’re out of sight they’re pretty much out of mind—until something goes wrong.
And when something does go wrong, you might find yourself scrambling to replace that water heater. It’s very tempting, when doing so, to get the exact same make and model that you had before, just for ease of the purchase. But what if rushing into this decision leaves you with a water heater that’s not very efficient for your household?
You might have always used a large tank water heater, but perhaps a tankless water heater will be best moving forward. Read on as we uncover the pros and cons of each, to help you make an educated decision about your next water heater installation.
Choosing a Tank Water Heater
Traditional tank water heaters are typically the most common type of water heater you’ll find in people’s homes. One reason for this is because they just do the job required of them at a low price.
The distinguishing feature of a tank water heater is that it uses a storage tank full of water to do its job. These tanks come in different sizes, by the gallon. Why? Because once a tank water heater’s hot water supply is depleted, there’s a delay in time as it heats up a new batch. So, a larger home with more household members would understandably need a bigger tank than a smaller home would.
But, if you install a tank water heater system that’s too big for your needs, then you’ll suffer from what’s known as standby heat loss. This means the water in your water heater will keep cooling off before you get the chance to use it, and will need to heat the water back up for your use later. This is very inefficient, and one of the drawbacks that people find when it comes to storage tank water heaters.
That said, tank water heaters are still a preferred choice for many homeowners. The installation is typically more affordable than their tankless counterparts, and they’re available for both gas or electric fuel sources.
Choosing a Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater is an alternative to the more standard tank water heater that functions in a much different way. As the name implies, a tankless system doesn’t use a tank. Rather, a tankless system creates hot water through electrical resistance, “on-demand” as a faucet or appliance calls for it.
Generally speaking, because of their setup, tankless systems are more energy-efficient than their tank counterparts.
There is a drawback to the tankless system, however. These water heaters can’t keep up if the demand is too high. So if you have multiple fixtures and/or appliances demanding hot water all at once, then the system can get overwhelmed and may be unable to supply the level of hot water that you need. In this case, a home may need more than one tankless system, or a tank water heater might be the better choice.
The good news is that our team is here to help you make that choice. We can look at your specific home and household needs in order to help you decide what the best option is.
See what keeps our customers saying, “I Love My Design Comfort!” Contact us to install your water heater in Salt Lake City, UT today.
