We love giving our customers sound advice and answers to the questions that they ask. In this case, however, giving sound advice means that the best answer we can give is: it depends. There are far too many factors to consider when getting into the question of tank vs. tankless water heaters to provide a definitive answer in a blog post. Different homes have different needs, and different homeowners have different personal preferences.
So while we’d need to speak with you directly—and please do contact us with any questions that you have—to really get a feel for which system is right for you, we can give you some valuable information that can help you start to weigh your options in an informed manner. Both tank and tankless water heaters have their pros and cons, and we are determined to help you your ideal water heater in Visalia, CA. So let’s take a look at what each system has to offer.
Price
We’ll look at what you can expect to see on the price tag with each system first, since this is definitely one of the biggest deciding factors for most consumers. We will stress, however, that this is one case where you shouldn’t be immediately put off by price. It’s not a matter “you get what you pay for,” really, as tank water heaters are much less expensive than tankless models, but also offer great and reliable options.
The issue that you have to take into consideration is, instead, long-term savings. If you’re someone that does not mind waiting to recoup initial investment capital and then reap the rewards of long-term savings, then paying more upfront for a tankless model makes sense. This brings us to our next points.
Efficiency
Tank water heaters are, like most home appliances, typically more efficient now than they’ve ever been before. However, they are still subject to standby energy loss, which tankless water heaters simply are not. Even if it is minimal, it can add up over the span of a service life.
This energy loss occurs as heat from the water stored in tank transfers through the tank’s materials and out in the cooler air surrounding it. Tankless water heaters don’t encounter such problems because, well—they don’t have tanks! So over time, that can result in energy savings. And that brings us to our next point.
Lifespan
Because tankless water heaters do cost substantially more than tank models, it can take a while for the energy savings that you’ll enjoy to really pay off. Pay off they shall, though, because these systems really are in it for the long haul. When you choose a tank water heater—remember, more affordable upfront—you’re looking at an average lifespan of about 12-15 years. A tankless model can easily hit 20-25 years before requiring replacement.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when you’re choosing your new water heater. It is important that you make such careful considerations, though. Either way you go, you are going to be using these systems for years to come.
Schedule your water heater services with Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning.