If you’re in the market for a new water heater, you have your choice between traditional models with a tank or tankless units. Water heaters with a tank keep water in the tank hot whether or not you’re using it, while tankless models heat water as it flows through them. This means they only work while you’re using hot water. If you’re not sure which one sounds right to you, read on to learn more about tankless water heater pros and cons.
The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
Some of the pros of tankless water heaters include:
Energy efficiency — These units only heat water when you need it, meaning they won’t use energy unless necessary. This can save you a lot in terms of your utility bills.
Space — Because they don’t have tanks, they can be mounted on a wall. This means they take up far less room than traditional units.
Supply — Tankless models continue to heat water for as long as needed, meaning there’s no risk of running out of hot water.
On the other hand, some of the cons of tankless water heaters are:
Outages — If your home loses power or your natural gas supply is interrupted, you won’t be able to use any hot water until the issue is resolved.
Cost — These units tend to be more expensive than water heaters with tanks, at least in terms of the upfront costs. This is one of the biggest tankless water heater cons for many.
Infrastructure — Depending on your home’s utility lines, installing a tankless unit may require adding gas lines or additional plumbing.
The Pros and Cons of Traditional Water Heaters
Some of the reasons you might want to choose a traditional water heater include:
Water supply — Having a tank of hot water ready to go means you can continue to use it even if your home suffers a utility outage.
Installation — These are generally easier to install and shouldn’t require major changes to your home’s infrastructure.
Cost — These units typically are less expensive to purchase than tankless water heaters.
However, the cons of traditional water heaters include:
Maintenance — Traditional units need to be maintained on a regular basis to prevent them from failing over time.
Lifespan — These water heaters only last about half as long as tankless units.
Space — The size and bulk of these water heaters means they take up a lot of space in your basement or utility room.