Tankless water heaters are becoming more common with each year, and many new homes are built with tankless water heaters already installed. We often recommend our customers look into the possibility of tankless water heaters when they’re shopping around for a water heater replacement. They offer several tremendous benefits that can make significant changes for a home.
But tankless water heaters aren’t the ideal fit for all homes because, yes, they do have some drawbacks to go along with the many benefits. For some homes, the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks, but we advise you to always work with professionals like us when you’re planning for a new water heater installation.
We’ll look at several potential tankless water heater drawbacks and see how important they may be for you.
#1. Higher upfront price
Tankless water heater models are more expensive than standard tank water heaters, sometimes as much as three times the cost. For some homeowners, the higher installation cost isn’t workable with their current budget plans.
On the other hand… Tankless water heaters are tremendous energy savers and significantly lower hot water costs.
#2. Slower hot water delivery
A tankless water heater is an “on-demand” system that only heats up water when there’s a demand for it. This means it will take a few seconds for hot water to arrive at a tap when it’s turned on. With a storage-tank water heater, the water is already heated for use.
On the other hand… “On-demand” operation is the reason that tankless water heaters cost so much less to run in the first place.
#3. Can be overwhelmed when multiple taps are on
One of the major benefits of a tankless water heater is that it can’t run out of hot water—it has no supply to deplete and it will keep heating up more. But a tankless water heater can be overwhelmed by demand if there are multiple taps on at once, leading to inconsistent temperatures.
On the other hand… For small households, this is almost never a serious problem. Larger households can get around this with multiple tankless units.
#4. A gap between coldest temperatures and hottest temperatures
If you’re looking to find a middling lukewarm temperature for your hot water, a tankless system can have difficulty with this. You won’t be stuck with only scalding temperatures, but finding a cooler water balance isn’t as easy. Tank water heaters can be kept at a specific temperature for optimal use.
On the other hand… This is a minor inconvenience for most people.
A reminder about the other benefits…
After looking over these potential drawbacks for a water heater, also keep in mind the major benefits: unlimited hot water supply, lower energy bills, extended system lifespan, taking up less space, and it even may raise the value of your home.
So should you get a tankless water heater?
You’ve come to the right people to answer the question! We offer full tankless water heater services, from new installations to tankless water heater repair in Covington, LA, and we can help you make the best choice for your new water heater.
Gowland’s Heating & A/C values “Relationship Over Revenue!” Contact us today to learn more about tankless water heater options.