Access to hot water is an absolute necessity for day-to-day living. Your water heater makes it easy to take a shower, clean your clothes, wash dishes, and more, and when it’s time to install a new water heater, you might have two options from which to choose: a tank heater and a tankless water heater. Which is the best option? We’ll explain each along with their pros and cons.
Tank Water Heater
Most people are familiar with traditional tank water heaters. These have a large cylindrical tank that stores water until you’re ready to use it. These systems use electricity, natural gas, or propane to heat the water inside the tank. This type of water heater will continually heat the water to ensure it’s at whatever temperature setting you have on the thermostat.
When you use hot water from your faucet, it exits the water heater’s tank. As this happens, new water is introduced into the water heater so that it can be warmed up and ready for your next use. All tank water heaters have a specified capacity that determines how many gallons their storage tanks will hold. Note that, if you turn on your hot water faucet and run it continuously, the water will only be hot until you reach the gallon capacity of your specific water heater.
Tankless Water Heater
As its name suggests, this newer water heater does not use a cylindrical storage tank to hold water. Rather, a tankless system will heat water as it flows through your hot water line when you turn on your hot water faucet. Just like tank water heaters, tankless water heaters can use different types of fuel depending on your specific preference, including electricity, natural gas, and even propane.
This type of water heater has a couple of different thermostats inside it to measure the temperature of the water coming in and determine how much it needs to increase that temperature before the water flows out. It also has a thermostat at its outlet to ensure that the hot water leaving this water heater is at the appropriate temperature based on your thermostat setting.
Tankless water heaters only run when you turn on hot water at your faucet or if one of your appliances needs hot water. Because tankless water heaters heat the water as it flows through your water supply line, you can turn on your hot water faucet and have a continuous supply of hot water that will never turn cold.
Energy-Efficiency Ratings
Tank water heaters can have varying operating efficiencies. However, tankless water heaters have a much higher operating efficiency than their tank counterparts. This comes down to the difference in how these systems operate. Tank water heaters run continuously whereas tankless versions don’t.
Additionally, tankless water heaters are available in condensing versions that offer further efficiency. These units redirect the exhaust from the initial combustion process through a second heat exchanger to capture even more heat before the exhaust is safely directed outside.
Upfront Cost
Another stark difference between the two is their upfront cost. While prices vary based on factors such as your geographical location, brand, and so forth, there is a clear difference in pricing between these units. Tankless water heaters cost between one and a half to two times that of a tank water heater.
Lifespan
Tank water heaters tend to have a usable lifespan of between 8 and 12 years. On the other hand, tankless water heaters have a usable lifespan of 15 to 20 years. That’s almost twice that of the tank version.
Size
One clear difference between the two types of water heaters is their overall size. Tank water heaters take up a lot of floor space to house their large tanks. This can be challenging when it comes to fitting a tank water heater into a small home. Conversely, tankless water heaters are much smaller because they lack a storage tank. In fact, these small boxes can simply be attached to your wall. This keeps them up and out of your living space.
Maintenance
Both styles of water heaters are going to need regular maintenance to stay in tip-top condition. Both need to be flushed and inspected annually by one of our plumbing professionals. However, a tankless water heater is going to require regular filter cleaning. Ideally, you’ll want to do this every one to two months. There is no filter to wash when it comes to a tank-style water heater.
Installation
When it comes to installing both water heaters in a newly constructed home, their installation process is fairly similar. Water will need to be piped to the water heater location and electricity or a fuel supply line run to that location also. If you opt to switch from a tank to a tankless water heater, you may have to pay for extra installation costs to reroute the water piping and fuel supply lines or electricity to the new location of your tankless water heater.
Repairs
As with purchasing any specific appliance for your home, it’s vital to consider the costs associated with repairs. In general, tankless water heaters tend to be less complex than their tankless counterparts. This leads to easier and cheaper repair costs than you’ll likely find with a tankless water heater.
Tax Incentives
The federal government offers incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Most tankless water heaters will naturally qualify for this incentive due to their high operating efficiency. Only gas tank water heaters that have a > 0.86 UEF rating for 55 gallons tanks and over and a > 0.81 UEF rating for tanks less than 55 gallons qualify. Understanding which water heaters are eligible for these incentives can help you shop smarter and maximize your savings.
Which One Should You Choose?
Tankless water heaters typically outperform their tank predecessors in terms of operating efficiency, overall lifespan, and space-saving design. However, tank water heaters are cheaper to purchase, repair, and install. Choosing the ideal one for your home often comes down to determining what your goals are.
If you don’t have much regard for lifespan or operating efficiency and are more concerned with upfront purchase costs, a tank water heater can be a great, budget-friendly option. However, if you are okay with investing more upfront to get a water heater that will have lower operating costs over its lifetime and last much longer, then opting for a tankless water heater is a great choice that allows you to reap benefits for years to come and may even boost your home’s resale value.
Reliable Water Heater Installation Service
Prime Plumbing LLC offers reliable water heater service for the Nampa, ID area. We can also help with all your water heater maintenance, inspection, and repair needs. Simply call our office today to book your next service consultation with one of our helpful plumbers.
