Are Tankless Water Heaters Right for Your Home?

Sarah Lifestyle

A typical home hot water heater has a useful life of approximately 15 to 20 years, and there will come a time for most homeowners when the water heater requires replacement. Homeowners today have two main types of water heaters to choose from, and these are the traditional tank-style water heater and tankless water heaters. There are many benefits associated with a tankless model, but this type of water heater is not ideal for all homes. With a closer look at what a tankless model offers, you can better determine if this is right for you.

What Is a Tankless Water Heater?

Before you shortlist new water heaters for your home, you first need to develop a solid understanding of each type available in the market. With a tank-style water heater, the water is stored in a tank and maintained at a specific temperature for you to draw on as needed through the faucets and other features. This means that the water heater is using energy even when you do not need it. Keep in mind that the tankless water heater can only generate a certain amount of water at a time. A tankless heater, on the other hand, heats up water as the water passes through heating coils. This only happens when there is a demand for water in the home, and because of this, this style of hot water heater is considered to be more energy efficient.

Which Model is Right for Your Home?

You may have heard that you cannot run out of hot water with a tankless model, and there is partial truth to this. The reality is that a tankless model will continue to generate water as needed indefinitely at a certain rate. However, if there is increased demand for water in the home, such as if multiple people are trying to take a shower at the same time the dishwasher is running, the tankless model may not be able to keep up with the demand. It is important to review the demand for hot water in the home to determine which model may be right for you.

A water heater is a vital component to the home, providing you with a steady, reliable source of hot water to draw on as needed. If the time has come to replace the hot water heater in your home, you can review these two options thoroughly so that you make the best decision for your space.