If your home in Santa Rosa, CA, is like most others, it probably has a storage tank water heater. They’re the most popular hot water option in the US, but they aren’t your only option. If you need a new water heater, you might want to consider installing a tankless water heater model instead. Tankless water heaters have some advantages over storage tank models. Here’s everything you need to know about them and how to decide if one is suitable for your home.
What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
A tankless water heater is exactly what it sounds like. Also known as an on-demand water heater, it’s a system that produces hot water on the fly and doesn’t store any. What surprises most people is that they’re not a new invention. The first gas-powered tankless water heater went on sale in 1889. The first electric model hit the market in 1929.
Tankless water heaters are a popular option in much of the developed world. However, they never gained much traction in the US until the 1970s. After that, continued technological advances have helped them gain market share.
How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?
Tankless water heaters employ either a high-power electric heating element or a natural gas burner to heat water. They engage the heating element whenever you call for hot water. A tankless heater can detect hot water demand because it contains a flow sensor. The heating element transmits heat into the system’s heat exchanger. There’s a water line coiled around the heat exchanger through which cold water flows. As it does, the heat exchanger warms it to your preset temperature before sending it where needed. When there’s no longer demand for hot water, the flow sensor tells the heating element to turn off.
The Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters
Installing a tankless water heater has advantages over a storage tank model. Here’s what they are.
Endless Hot Water
The most important advantage of a tankless water heater is its capacity to produce endless hot water. Since it isn’t reliant on a storage tank, there’s no limit to how much hot water you can use. So, if you love to take long, hot showers, a tankless would remove any time limitations.
High Energy Efficiency
According to the Department of Energy, a tankless water heater is between 8% and 34% more efficient than a storage tank. One reason for that is that tankless heaters don’t suffer standby losses. A storage tank has to keep heating its stored water over and over while waiting for you to use it. That’s the main reason for that wide variance in a tankless’s efficiency advantage. The more hot water you use, the less those standby losses matter.
Space Savings
Tankless water heaters are far smaller than storage tank models. They’re typically wall-mounted and no larger than “30x 25”, making them ideal for smaller homes that could use some extra free floor space.
Less Prone to Leaks
Another advantage of a tankless water heater is that they’re less likely to leak than storage tank heaters. Since they store no water, tankless heaters are no more likely to leak than any other part of your home’s plumbing. A storage tank, by comparison, must withstand hot, pressurized water at all times. Fewer leaks means that you’ll need fewer calls for plumbing repair services for your water heater.
Longer Lifespan
On average, a tankless water heater will last about 20 years with proper maintenance. Most storage tanks don’t last beyond 15 years. Plus, the only significant regular maintenance tankless heaters require is yearly descaling. That keeps water flowing freely through the system and supports efficient heat transfer.
The Disadvantages of Tankless Water Heaters
If tankless water heaters were perfect, every home would have one. Here are some of their disadvantages.
Limited Flow Rate
Although a tankless water heater will provide an endless hot water supply, it can’t produce an unlimited volume, so you can’t use hot water in too many places simultaneously. You may need a larger tankless system to ensure an adequate flow rate than you’d hoped. Or, you might need to break your home into smaller zones and install more than one tankless.
Higher Upfront Costs
Tankless water heaters are also more expensive than comparable storage tank models. Depending on your chosen model, you could spend three times more for a tankless. Of course, various factors go into water heater pricing, so you should always get price quotes before choosing a solution. It’s also worth considering that tankless water heaters often qualify for rebates and tax credits because of their efficiency. Depending on which you qualify for, a tankless may be only slightly more expensive for you than other options.
Cold Water Sandwiches
If you’re used to having a tank water heater, you might struggle to get used to a tankless. The primary reason for that is a phenomenon known as a cold water sandwich. It’s a term that describes the temperature of the water that comes from your tap when you first open it. With a tankless, you’ll first feel some warm water. That’s the remaining warm water in your pipes from when you last called for hot water. Then, you’ll get a sudden burst of cold water. That’s the initial flow of water passing through your tankless as it heats up. After that, you’ll get the hot water you expect.
The good news is that you can eliminate the cold water sandwich effect by installing a recirculation pump. It’s an add-on that redirects unused warm water to your water heater each time you call for hot water. This raises the initial temperature of the water flow into the heater, eliminating the rush of cold water you’d otherwise experience. The problem is that a recirculation system will add even more to your tankless’s cost.
Making Your Choice
The bottom line is that there’s no right and wrong choice between tankless and storage tank water heaters. Your decision will typically come down to a few simple things. One is how much you value having an endless flow of hot water. If that’s your priority, a tankless is worth its price. The same thing goes for energy efficiency. A tankless water heater is a good choice if you want the most efficient option.
However, a storage tank may be your best bet if your home uses a considerable volume of hot water daily. With a tankless heater, high-usage homes won’t save as much money on energy costs. Also, your water demand might make a tankless impractical, especially if you need high flow rates.
Your Trusted Water Heater Experts
For over 33 years, KC Home Services has offered quality water heater solutions to homeowners in Santa Rosa. We sell and install tankless styles, storage tank styles, and heat pump water heaters. We also provide comprehensive plumbing and HVAC services. We’re licensed, bonded, insured, and have a long list of satisfied local customers. So, if you need a water heater in Santa Rosa, call KC Home Services immediately.