If you have a traditional tank water heater, you may be wondering whether or not you should upgrade to a tankless model. Each version of a water heater has its own unique pros and cons. It really comes down to what your needs and preferences are.
Keep reading to learn about the unique benefits of a tankless water heater, as well as a couple of potential downsides to consider before making the upgrade. Then give our team a call and we can help with everything from maintenance to repairs and installation for water heaters in Penfield.
How a Tankless Water Heater Works
A tankless water heater is different from a standard tank water heater that has a large storage tank attached. Instead of holding water and keeping it hot until you are ready to use it, a tankless water heater only heats water when there is a demand for it.
When you turn on a hot water faucet or select a hot water setting on an appliance, like your dishwasher or clothes washer, the water heater jumps into action and begins heating up water right away. Water gets directed through the tankless water heater where it is heated instantly and transferred where it needs to go without any waiting or limitations on how much hot water you have available, as long as water is coming into your home from a source.
Benefits of a Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are often more energy efficient than the tank models. The reason for this is that a water heater with a tank heats water up and then has to keep it hot around the clock all day, every day. It’s heating up water even when you aren’t using any hot water. This uses more energy than a tankless water heater does to heat the water on demand.
Potential Downsides
The only downside that you need to consider with a tankless water heater is that you may not be able to use hot water in multiple places throughout your home at the same time. Your tankless water heater can only heat up so much water at any given time.
For example, if you have two people showering in different bathrooms and one person washing dishes at the sink, everyone may experience slightly lower water pressure. If you have a large family, you may need to install two tankless water heaters to meet the demand for hot water in your home. You could also consider getting a tankless water heater and a small, backup tank water heater. When we install more than one tankless water heater, we usually place one on either side of the house.
Still not sure if a tankless water heater is right for your home? Contact us today and we can help you make the decision.
Contact Potter Heating Cooling & Plumbing today to schedule your water heater services. Our team is here to help with all of your heating and air conditioning needs.