If you have always had a storage water heater, you may assume this is the only means of heating water for a home. What if we told you that you could get all the hot water you need from a tankless unit the size of a carry-on suitcase—and save significantly on your water heating bill in the process? Here are the top reasons why more and more Seattle-area homeowners are making the switch to tankless.
Storage vs. Tankless Water Heaters
Traditional storage water heaters must keep 40 to 60 gallons of water hot 24 hours a day so it’s ready when you want to take a shower, wash the dishes, or start a batch of laundry. The trouble is once you go through the hot water supply in the tank, you have to wait up to an hour for the water to heat up again. You also waste money keeping all that water hot, even when you don’t need it for hours at a time.
Tankless water heaters are different. These units produce hot water on demand. When you call for hot water, powerful electric coils or a gas burner rapidly heat incoming cold water. Then, the unit shuts back off until you need hot water again.
What are the Benefits of Going Tankless?
Tankless water heaters offer several benefits over storage tanks, including:
- Increased efficiency: Because there’s no standby heat loss, tankless water heaters perform up to 50 percent more efficiently. You’ll notice the savings on your utility bills right away.
- Endless hot water supply: You may be restricted to one or two hot-water activities at a time, but your family can take endless back-to-back showers and never run out of hot water.
- Smaller footprint: If you live in a home with limited storage space, the small dimensions of a tankless unit may be very appealing. The suitcase-sized appliance mounts to the wall, freeing up valuable space in your basement, garage, or utility closet.
- Long lifespan: Tankless water heaters cost more than their storage tank counterparts, but they also last twice as long. Provided that you keep up with recommended maintenance, your tankless unit should last upwards of 20 years compared to about 10 years for storage water heaters.
- Point-of-use models available: Instead of having a central water heater, you may choose to install multiple point-of-use tankless water heaters in the kitchen and each bathroom. The initial cost may be higher, but you’ll enjoy instant and endless hot water and no flow rate restrictions for the lifetime of each unit.
Puget Sound Plumbing & Heating installs, repairs, and maintains tankless water heaters from Eternal Hybrid. These products are backed by some of the best warranties in the industry. We would be happy to answer your questions about tankless water heating and help you decide if making the switch is right for you.
Give us a call at (206) 350-0079 to learn more about tankless water heaters or to request an installation estimate.