If you are considering updating your Conventional Water heater to a tankless water heater there are a few things to consider. Before making the decision it’s important to evaluate your current situation, such as, the square footage of your home, the size of your family and even environmental factors. Share these items with your plumber to help you determine what would best fit you and your families needs.
Conventional Water Heaters
Pros to Conventional Water Heaters
- Straight Forward and Proven – They have been around a long time, reliable and do what they need to do
- Low Installation and product Cost
- Inexpensive to replace
- High Efficiency gas water heaters are now Energy Star Certified (Must have energy factor of at least .62)
Cons to Conventional Water Heaters
- They are always on
- Very big and bulky (Needs a large amount of space for installation)
- If not sized correctly, could be inadequate for your home
- Lasts 12-15 years (Could be a pro or a con)
Tankless Water Heaters
Pros to Tankless Water Heaters
- Can reduce energy costs up to 25% Annually
- Activates only when needed rather than 24 hrs a day
- Highly efficient – According to Energy Star some can have energy factors as high as .95
- Reliable, never runs out of hot water
- Compact and Versatile – Can be installed on a wall in your home
- Life expectancy of 20 yrs or more
Cons to Tankless Water Heaters
- Expensive – Installation and cost of product can cost up to twice as much as conventional tanks due to piping and the need for very good venting
- Retrofitting can be expensive, from Conventional to tankless
- Best performance comes from gas units – Electric units are not Energy Star rated
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