We'll walk you through the results and considerations of going tankless. Switching to tankless from a storage tank water heater is no easy swap because it requires a plumbing retrofit and possibly an upgrade to your electric service or gas lines to increase capacity.
Considering that 90 percent of hot water heater installations take place during an emergency, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, that puts you at a disadvantage when you're negotiating with a prospective plumber or contractor to make the switch on your tight timeline. For example, you might not be able to run the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time that someone is taking a shower.
And depending on the temperature of your groundwater, you may have to wait for the water to get hot. With the help of an outside lab, we conducted performance tests and measured energy use on the nine models we purchased, and calculated installation costs for storage tank and tankless water heaters, as well as how long it would take a homeowner to recoup the investment of a tankless water heater—called the payback time.
After weeks of testing, we discovered that all the gas tankless water heaters performed similarly and all the electric tankless were equivalent in terms of performance.
Because the differences among models were negligible, instead of breaking out individual models for ratings like we do with most other products, our engineers grouped all the gas tankless units together and all the electric tankless models together, and compared the groups with their conventional storage tank models that run on the same fuel. You can see the results in our water heater ratings charts. Storage tank: Storage tank water heaters typically have a capacity of 30 to 60 gallons, but the most common size is 50 gallons.
The capacity you want depends on the size of your household and how much hot water you use your plumber can help with the calculations. Using natural gas, electricity, fuel oil, or propane, these tanks continuously heat water to keep a full store at the ready. That means you're paying to have hot water whether you need it or not.
Storage tanks can be 5 feet tall or taller and about 2 feet wide or wider. If your water heater is in the basement, you might not mind the space it takes.
Tanks that hold less than 55 gallons may be an inch or two larger. But tanks of 55 gallons or more will require even more space, depending on the energy-saving technology they use.
Tankless: As their name implies, tankless, or on-demand water heaters, don't store water in a tank. Instead they heat water as it passes through the unit, using a heat exchanger to rapidly bring it up to temperature. They run on electricity, natural gas, or propane.
Heating water only when you need it eliminates the standby energy losses you get with a storage tank. But, if you are on a fixed modest income, a storage tank water heater might make more sense for you. Discuss the two types of water heaters with your plumber to weigh your options.
Why wait? Petro professionals will give you the objective information you need to make the right choice for you and your family. Request a call back. Sales Service The longer the timeline, the more quickly you recoup the initial investment on the tankless unit and enjoy long-term energy savings. With the tankless unit, the savings are substantial the longer you reside in your home. That is fairly considerable saving.
Installation costs on tankless heaters continue to fall as they increase in popularity and more plumbers are competent at installation. Noritz offers a variety of models compatible with your pre-existing exhaust stack. Plus, Noritz can help you find a licensed installer wherever you live. The two heaters are nearly identical in installation cost. Following installation, the difference in savings is shockingly obvious:.
Tank heaters deteriorate over time. Most tanks last only 10 years before they must be replaced. According to Energy. So if you can handle the high initial costs, you can save more money in the long run by switching to tankless.
Tankless can also be a good choice for large families because you have more people consistently using more hot water. However, a traditional water heater may make more sense if you are on a limited income and need a quick replacement. Ragsdale Plumbing sells, installs, maintains and repairs traditional and tankless water heaters in Atlanta-area homes.
If you have any questions about water heaters or which one is right for you, ask one of our friendly experts online. Service Area View Details. Schedule Service We can't wait to take care of you. Hours of Operation Monday - Friday: 7am - 7pm.
0コメント