You’ve probably heard of tankless water heaters, which heat up water a little differently than traditional storage tanks. While tank water heaters must keep hot water around at all times, tankless water heaters only heat up the water when you need it. This is beneficial for your wallet and for the system itself, but is a tankless system right for you? Let’s take a look at both storage tank water heaters and tankless water heaters to find out.
Storage Tank Water Heater
A storage tank water heater keeps water heated, which is convenient because you should not expect much of a delay between the time you turn on a hot water tap and when hot water is delivered to the faucet. A storage tank water heater does, however, use quite a bit of energy that does not use, known as standby energy loss. On the other hand, the initially lower cost of the water heater is often what draws people in.
Tankless Water Heater
Although a storage tank water heater is less expensive initially, it can prove costly over time when compared to a tankless water heater. The energy savings that come from the eliminated standby energy loss, as well as the longer lifespan of the tankless water heater—make it an ideal choice for those looking to save over time, so this type of water heater is more of a long-term investment. Besides, it takes up little space and shouldn’t run out of hot water during a long bath, for example.
For many people, the potential to save money over time simply does not make up for the initial cost. If you have never had much trouble with a storage tank water heater in the past, you may be more comfortable sticking with the standard system. A tankless water heater, however, is an environmentally-conscious decision that may be right for your home; consult with a technician to be sure.
Get in touch with the friendly technicians at ACI Northwest, and we can help you decide whether a tankless water heater is the right choice for your family in Coeur d’Alene, ID.