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Is It Time To Install a Tankless Water Heater?

One of the questions plumbers are frequently asked is whether they should repair or replace an older water heater. And if a water heater needs to be replaced, is a tankless water heater a better choice than the traditional kind? Tankless heaters are an option that many households are adopting, but does it make sense for your needs?

Repair or Replace?

We tend to take water heaters and a constant supply of hot water for granted until a problem develops. If a standard water heater is more than 10 years old, it makes more sense to replace it than to repair it, since the average life span of a water heater is 10-15 years. If your water heater is more than 13 years old, you should think about replacing it even if it still works. When the water heater fails, chances are it will happen in the middle of the night or when you and your family are on vacation. Once the heater starts to leak it will empty its tank, and you really don't want to have to deal with the mess that the flooding would cause. If you decide to replace your old water heater, a tankless water heater is an option you might want to consider.

How a Tankless Water Heater Works

A tankless water heater, also known as an instantaneous or demand-type heater, heats water when the tap is turned on. Cold water is delivered via a flow switch to the element (either gas or electric), which then heats the water. The water is heated only on demand, whereas with a traditional water heater, the water in the tank is continually being kept hot. Tankless water heaters have become popular in the United States over the past decade as home owners are looking to conserve energy and save on utility bills. According to the Department of Energy, heating water is the second greatest energy drain in a home—in fact, heating water accounts for 18% of an average household's utility costs.

Advantages of a Tankless Water Heater

The tankless water heater has a longer life span than its standard cousin and because there's no tank, you don't have to worry about tank failure and leaking. The water heater is mounted on a wall, so it takes up less space than a traditional heater. A tankless water heater is energy-saving, since it only heats water when it's needed which is good for the environment and great for your pocketbook. For instance, by installing an Energy Star gas tankless water heater, a typical family could save more than $100 per year on utility bills compared to families who use the traditional tank heaters. And you may be entitled to a tax credit for your water heater, provided that the water heater is an approved Energy Star appliance that is installed in an existing home (not a newly constructed house), and that the home is your principal residence.

Cautions

A tankless water heater is considerably more expensive to purchase and install than a traditional heater. However, the initial outlay should be balanced against the savings on your utility bill that you will gain over time, because of the energy-efficiency of the tankless water heater. If you qualify for a tax credit, that will also lessen the pain to your pocket book.
Another word of caution- it is possible that the hot water supply will run out if there is heavy usage. You should calculate how much hot water your household will need by determining the flow rate, which is measured in gallons per minute (gpm). You can use a gpm flow chart to add up the average water flow generated by your faucets, showers, dishwasher and clothes washer. Once you know your flow rate, you'll be able to estimate what size water heater will fulfill your needs.

Installing a Tankless Water Heater

Installing a tankless water heater is a complicated procedure that needs to be done correctly to ensure maximum energy savings. It's likely that you will need a plumber to do it unless you are quite experienced with DIY projects. If you've decided that a tankless water heater is the right choice for your family, use our Services Directory to find a reliable plumber. And our system of reviews will enable you to evaluate the work of your plumber once the job is done.

Use BizPals to help you get an energy saving tankless water installed in your home this year!

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