Whether you’re just learning about tankless water heaters, or you’ve been aware of them for some time now, it helps to learn as much as you can if you’re actually considering them for your own home. In this guide, we’ll take a brief look at the details so that you can get a better idea of how to choose the right water heating solution for your home.
What are Tankless Water Heaters?
Tankless water heaters are units that are designed to deliver on-demand hot water. As the name suggests, they eliminate the need for that huge holding tank and the constant reheating of the water within it, which is making them a popular choice for people who want to save energy and improve their efficiency. Tankless systems come in both gas and electric so that they can easily be retrofitted to any home.
These systems can deliver 2-5 gallons of hot water each minute and gas models have even higher flow rates and more energy-efficient features than electric options. Homes that use a lot of hot water may need to install more than one of these units to keep up with demand. However, that will improve operating costs and energy savings over time.
How Much Do Tankless Water Heaters Cost?
The prices for these systems will vary, depending on features, gas versus electric operation, and other elements. Typically, you can expect to spend between $300 and $2,500 on the installation of a tankless water heater, which is about three times as much as it costs to install a standard water heater.
However, you’ll also save a ton of energy costs by not constantly reheating that giant tank of water, and tankless systems can recoup their costs relatively quickly because of this. Bear in mind that if you decide to install more than one tankless system, you’ll have to add that additional cost to the installation so that you know what to expect.
What are the Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters?
The biggest benefit is that you have hot water on demand, at all times. There is also not a lot of space required to install this system—it can be installed on a wall and won’t take up much more room than a circuit breaker panel. It’s energy-efficient and lasts a lot longer than a traditional tank system.
Tankless systems are a bit more expensive to install and require more professional attention for maintenance and upkeep, but that’s a minimal cost compared to the savings that you get over time. Plus, these systems can allow you to pinpoint where and how you need hot water delivered if you install them for multiple faucets or locations in the home.
The Bottom Line
This is only a quick glimpse of how tankless water heaters work and what they offer. There is a lot more to learn, so feel free to continue reading about these systems and what they offer your home. If you’re looking to upgrade, talk to your installer to determine if a tankless water heater is the right choice for you.