Advanced heating and cooling equipment may save energy, but
new models don’t always make financial sense for homeowners. It is important to
take a look at purchase and installation costs as well as the benefits of lower
utility bills for the life of the equipment. To address the problem of wasteful
tank water heaters, you may consider a tankless model. Here are the benefits
you may enjoy from an upgrade.
Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating is
the second biggest expense for homeowners, costing up to 18 percent of your
utility bill. Since tank water heaters (also called storage heaters) heat and
hold large amounts of water you don’t use, a great deal of this energy is
wasted over the course of a year. A tankless model eliminates this problem and
offers other benefits.
Hot Water Only When You Need It. Tankless models supply hot
water on demand to eliminate the need for constant heating. This system can
save families over 30 percent on water heating costs, which amounts to more
than $100 a year for many homes.
Limitless Hot Water. Since there is no tank to empty, the
tankless system gives you a limitless supply of hot water. You can run the
dishwasher while people are showering or have several family members take
showers one after the other without sacrificing comfort.
Tankless Water Heaters Save Space. Maybe the most obvious
advantage of a tankless heater is the amount of space it saves over storage
heaters. Rather than making room for a 6-foot tank that is several feet wide, a
tankless model only needs a few feet of space.
Tankless is the Greener Option. If you are concerned about
greenhouse gas emissions, a water storage tank is the worst system for your
home. Tankless models save a great deal of energy, so they cut down on your
home’s emissions and reduce your carbon footprint.
Best Situation for Tankless Water Heaters
If you have an efficient heat pump, switching to a tankless
model may not save you money once you factor in the cost of purchase and
installation. However, switching from a wasteful old tank water heater will
almost always be a good investment.
Replacing Old Water Heaters. An old storage tank is
inefficient when it comes to heating water and presents a risk of flooding your
home when it fails. Upgrading to a tankless model will save you big on energy
costs and remove this risk.
Total Life Span. Since a tankless model can last more than
20 years, these water heaters are one of the most durable options. Depending on
how long you plan to stay, it may be the last water heater you buy. Calculate
savings over the entire life span of the heater.
Meeting Your Family’s Needs. Some families are better off
with two tankless heaters to meet the demand and layout of a home. Since the
upfront costs of tankless models have dropped in recent years, you don’t have
to worry about the initial investment.
Let Reliable Heating and Air assess your water heater needs
and suggest the best model for your home. Georgia residents have many options
these days, and tankless water heaters may be the perfect solution for you.