­­­Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters

If you’re in the market for a new water heater, one the biggest decisions you’ll likely face is whether to choose a traditional water heater or a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters provide homeowners with numerous benefits, but there are also some drawbacks that make them a less-than-ideal choice for some homes. Before you invest in a new water heater for your home, take a few minutes to learn about the pros and cons of tankless water heaters in Toronto.

Tankless Water Heater Benefits

Let’s start with the pros of tankless water heaters. As you likely already know, they provide significant energy savings. In fact, a tankless water heater uses 30% to 50% less energy than traditional water heaters with tanks. For the average household, this translates to an average energy saves of around $100 per year.

If you currently have a traditional water heater, I don’t have to tell you that they take up a lot of room in your home. Tankless water heaters, however, have a considerably smaller footprint, and they can fit just about anywhere.

Tankless water heaters also provide a constant supply of hot water whenever you need it. While draining a water heater with a tank requires refilling the tank and reheating it, hot water is constantly available with a tankless heater. This is especially beneficial in large families where multiple showers are needed in fairly rapid succession.

Tankless Water Heater Drawbacks

The primary disadvantage of a tankless water heater is the upfront cost. Tankless heaters cost considerably more to install than heaters with tanks, and it can take several years to recoup the cost in energy savings.

Though hot water is always available within seconds when you use a tankless heater, it may only be available from one faucet at a time. So, if you plan on having multiple family members showering simultaneously in different bathrooms, or if you need to do dishes and laundry at the same time, a tankless heater may not be your best bet, unless you install individual heaters at several points throughout your home, which can be a very costly endeavor. Installing a larger tankless heater is also an option, but again, these models are very expensive.

Installing a Toronto tankless water heater also requires special venting due to their high-powered burners. For this reason, professional installation is always required, and installation is almost always more expensive for tankless heaters than heaters with tanks, furthering the initial investment. On a positive note, though, opting for professional plumbing installation of any type of water heater is recommended because it ensures that the job is done correctly and preserves any manufacturer warranties that may be in place.

Which One Is Right for Your Home?

Deciding between a tankless water heater and a traditional water heater can be a challenge. On one hand, you have considerable energy savings and a much smaller footprint in your home; on the other you have additional upfront costs and more difficult installation. Despite the drawbacks, many families find that tankless water heaters work well for their home.

If you have decided to take advantage of the benefits of an energy-saving tankless water heater, the Toronto plumbing professionals at WaterWorks can help you decide upon the model and size that will best suit your home, and they will install it at a time that is convenient for you. To upgrade your water heater in Toronto, call WaterWorks Plumbing and Drains at (647) 691-0022­