While water heaters can last for many years, and regular maintenance helps to maximize their life expectancy, there will eventually come a day when you need to start looking into water heater replacement. If that day has arrived, you’ll want to weigh your options carefully.
It might seem like you only ever hear about tankless water heater systems these days. Does anyone still use storage tank water heaters? Or is tankless the only way to go? We’ve got the information you need.
Storage Tank Water Heaters
These classic systems are definitely still an option! If that’s what you want, you can absolutely get it. Many people do prefer them for a variety of reasons. Here are the two biggest ones.
- Up-Front Cost: These systems are less expensive to purchase than their tankless counterparts. Depending on the system, the difference might not be huge, but on average, you’ll spend less money up front if you decide to go with a tank water heater.
- Simultaneous Capacity: This type of water heater only offers as much hot water as the tank can hold before it runs out and has to heat up more water. However, it can deliver that hot water to multiple fixtures or appliances at the same time, no matter how much is called for. This often works better for large, busy households with simultaneous hot water needs.
Tankless Water Heaters
If you’d like to know what the fuss is all about, here are the details on why people do often prefer tankless systems.
- Operating Cost: These systems are less expensive to run than their storage tank counterparts. They don’t keep a full tank of water hot all day and night whether it’s needed or not. They only heat the water that’s called for (at a rate of 2–5 gallons per minute), which means they consume a lot less energy. Whether that’s your gas bill or your electric bill, lowering it is always nice.
- Uninterrupted Hot Water: While it might only be 2–5 gallons per minute, not enough for multiple people to shower at once, it will simply never run out. There’s no tank to refill and heat up, and no waiting after someone else’s shower before you can take your own.
- Environmental Impact: Because these systems use less energy, they’re better for the environment in addition to being better for your utility bills.
- Space: Tankless water heaters are much smaller. There’s no need to find the room for a tank that holds anywhere from 40–80 gallons of water. In a small home, this may free up valuable space for storage or other uses.
If you have more questions about water heaters in Lansdale, PA, we would love to help you address your concerns and meet your needs so that whatever type of water heater you get, you’ll be happy with it for many years to come.
Contact Platinum Plumbing & Heating, Inc. today to schedule an appointment with our pros.