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Tank vs Tankless Water Heaters – Hot Water Options

If you have been in the market for a new water heater, you may be wondering about whether you should get a traditional tank water heater or a tankless water heater. Both types of water heaters have their advantages and disadvantages – it’s important to do your research first to determine which will be the best fit for your needs. To provide you with some help in deciding, we will compare both options in the article below.

The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heater vs a Tank Water Heater

Tankless Water Heaters – In It for the Long Haul

The Benefits of a Tankless Water Heater System

There are many benefits to installing a tankless system. Tankless water heaters only use energy when you turn on the tap. You aren’t paying to heat a large tank of standing water while you are sleeping or away, and this is what saves you money in energy use. Tankless water heaters installation costs are more expensive, but they do have many advantages:

Compact, space-saving design. Many of these are the size of a small briefcase. They are wall-mounted and therefore save a lot of room in your utility room.
Low chance of flooding. The tankless units we install have flood prevention built-in, something that hot water tanks do not have. Also, because it’s not a “storage tank” if the unit happened to fail, the flood risk is minimal, compared to a hot water tank that holds 40 to 80 gallons of hot water.
Lower utility bills. You only pay to heat the water as you use it, on-demand water, rather than heating a large standing tank of water, which results in cost savings.
Precise temperature control.
Government rebates up to $1000. Energy Efficiency Alberta began offering government rebates for tankless water heaters in 2018. The amount of the rebate depends on the model that you are replacing, as well as the size of your home. The rebates are subject to third party availability. Find out if you are eligible to save on upfront costs.
Twice the lifespan. Tankless water heaters for your home will last 20 years or more with the right maintenance.
Endless hot water. No more cold showers, which is great for large families! However, it should be mentioned that some homes that have a lot of simultaneous water draws may require a couple of tankless units installed.

Tankless water heaters may be right for you if you plan to stay in your home for many years to come. While they are more expensive upfront, over time they do essentially pay for themselves in energy usage alone – saving on operating costs. And as a bonus making a positive environmental impact from within your own home by selecting an eco-friendly choice. Tankless heaters are great for large families. They are also referred to as hot water on demand because they don’t run out of hot water. If you are away from home a lot, tankless units may be a good fit for you, so you aren’t paying to heat water that you aren’t using. If you live in a smaller home or townhome, a tankless model will save you a lot of space that you could utilize for other things. It is important to note that if you select a tankless model, you need to be prepared to have professional yearly maintenance which includes flushing of the tankless unit to prevent mineral buildup which would reduce its efficiency or cause it to fail. Annual professional tune-ups are a requirement of manufacturer’s warranties.

Hot Water Tanks – Shorter Term, but does the Job

The Benefits of a Hot Water Tank System

The primary advantage to the homeowner of traditional water heaters is the lower purchase cost. Most homes are already set up for a tank so your plumber will not have to change the natural gas lines or do different venting, which is often the case when switching to a tankless model. These are some advantages of tank models that you may find suitable for you:

Budget-friendly. Lower cost upfront means you have more money left in your pocket. If your budget is an issue and every penny counts, this may be the best option for you.
Less maintenance. Compared to a tankless water heater, there is not a lot of maintenance that necessarily needs to be done on a traditional tank.
Variable tank sizes. You can purchase the right size of tank to best meet your families needs. You may still run out of hot water, but purchasing a larger tank can help alleviate this issue.

Hot water tanks may be the best option for you if you aren’t planning to stay in your current home long term. They are also a good budget-friendly option for those who are on restricted spending.

This guide will give you an idea of the differences between tankless and hot water tanks. If you are ready to replace your hot water appliance, the professional plumbers at Always Plumbing & Heating will thoroughly discuss both options and your needs, to help you select which is the right model for you.

Is a Tankless Water Heater Right for My Household?

The cost to heat your water day after day can be, to put it mildly, costly. Edmonton homeowners shell out money hand over fist each month to pay for the hot water that powers their dishwasher, laundry, sink and shower, and it adds up quickly. A traditional water heater powers it all just fine, but there are drawbacks to having one in your home.

They take up a lot of space. They’re prone to leakage and flooding. You can run out of hot water if the pre-filled tank runs out. To compensate for their shortcomings, you can opt to install a tankless water heater. These smaller, cheaper water heaters have their own pros and cons, and they can end up being better for you depending on your home. Always Plumbing & Heating has provided a list of benefits and drawbacks so that you can make an informed decision about whether a tankless water heater is right for you or not.

First – How Tankless Water Heaters Work

Tankless water heaters are just that – tankless. They eliminate the bulky storage unit a regular water heater has and instead uses a heat exchanger that cold water passes through, warming it to the temperature you’ve set it at. This way, you only get the water you need instead of drawing from a previously filled tank.

Benefits

It’s not hard to see why a tankless water heater is appealing. It saves space, eliminates the money you have to pay to continually heat the water in a larger tank, instead only heating water when you need it. Thus, the energy use gets whittled down.

The worries about a flooded basement become a thing of the past. Without a tank, there’s nothing to potentially spring a leak.
Tankless water heaters are less prone to breaking, so you won’t need to shell out the money to have them repaired. And because they have fewer parts that need replacing, tankless water heaters typically last longer than traditional water heaters (about 20 years compared to 15).

Those are nice, but the real selling point is the money you’ll save. A family can save more than $100 a year in energy-bill savings, thanks to the efficiency of a tankless water heater. By only heating water when it’s needed, you’re not paying for unnecessary heat all the time.

Drawbacks

That said, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows: there are drawbacks, and they’re worth considering.

Since a tankless water heater is smaller than a traditional unit and therefore pumps water through at a slower rate, it might not be able to handle the output you require. A typical unit is able to heat 2-5 gallons of water per minute — a shower pumps out roughly 7 gallons of water a minute; a tankless water heater might not be able to keep up. If your home is bigger and needs more power, you might have to install a few of these water heaters to sufficiently meet the needs of your appliances.
The up-front cost for a tankless water heater can be a deterrent. The average cost for one – including installation – can climb into the $2,000-$3,000 range depending on the type of water heater you want as well as the size and power it generates.
If the unit you’re eyeing is electric-powered, you might need more outlets to power them, and gas-powered water heaters expel greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

So, the decision to splurge and have a tankless water heater isn’t a quick or easy one, but it can pay off in the long run if you can handle the cost up front. If you do decide to take the plunge, installation of one isn’t something that you should attempt on your own. The experts at Always Plumbing & Heating are equipped to fully install a tankless water heater at your home, and we’ll do it right the first time. Give us a call at 780-489-8118 for the most reliable service in Edmonton today!

Is a Tankless Water Heater Right for Your Edmonton Home?

Water heating can account for up to 20 percent of a home’s utility costs. Given the severity of an Edmonton winter, most area residences probably experience bills on the higher end of that equation. To combat this, many homeowners look to alternatives to the typical tank water heater, which requires heating 24 hours a day. One of the more economical heater designs is the popular tankless model. Also called an “on-demand” unit, these heaters take up much less space and only heat water when required. There are several benefits to installing a tankless water heater in your home, but before you decide on making the switch Always Plumbing & Heating has created a list of pros and cons. If you decide that you’re ready for tankless technology, our plumbing experts can help you with selection, installation and service.

Benefits of Installing a Tankless Water Heater

Rebates: Most tankless water heaters come with a tax rebate of $300.

Energy Efficiency Rebates and Incentives

Longevity: A tankless design will last five to 10 years longer than a typical tank unit.
Efficiency: Tankless models don’t keep a constant supply of water heated, so there is no standby heat loss. This makes their design much more efficient.
Convenience: Unlike a tank water heater, a tankless will never leave you in the cold. They are also called “on-demand” because they provide hot water exactly when you need it.
Space–Saving: Tankless designs are much more compact than tank models. They can be installed on walls and confined spaces – even outdoors (with the help of an anti-freeze kit).
POS: There are small tankless units that can even be installed underneath cabinets, which are ideal for point of use (POS) connections.
Green: Electric versions of tankless designs don’t produce toxic greenhouse gasses.
Flood Proof: Tank water heaters have been known to leak and sometimes flood. With the tankless design, there is no chance for destructive flooding.

Disadvantages of a Tankless Water Heater

Cost: The cost of a tankless unit is up to three times as much as a typical tank water heater.
Venting: Gas and propane tankless units require stainless steel tubing, which can be expensive.
Gas Line: A larger natural gas line might be needed to ensure enough fuel for the unit.
Fixture Split: The hot water output on a tankless unit is split between all of the fixtures in a home.
Lag Time: There is a lag time required to get the water hot, which increases the waste factor.
Flow Rate: A tankless water heater needs a minimum flow rate of .5GPM in order to activate the heat exchanger.
Electric Units: Electric tankless units require a lot of energy to run.
Annual Maintenance: Gas tankless units require annual servicing, which can also be expensive.

If you are in the market for a new water heater and are considering a tankless model, there is more research that you can do to ensure that it is right for your home. Comparing the yellow “Energy Guide” sticker on your current tank model to any tankless units that you are interested in buying is a good start. Comparing guides will give you an indication of the monthly energy consumption.

You will then want to weigh in all the other expenses involved in installing the tankless unit; venting, electricity upgrades and additional gas lines should be factored in. The total costs of the purchase and how much time it will take to make back that amount in savings is referred to as the “payback period.” An Always Plumbing & Heating technician can also assist you in finding the ideal design for your household needs. Give us a call at 780-489-8118 to schedule an appointment today!

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Contact the experts at Always Plumbing & Heating for all your water heater service needs!

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