Tankless Water Heater Vs. Traditional Water Heater
A home is just simply not complete without a Water Heater. It supplies you hot water for showers, dishes, laundry, and more! Within this piece, we will go over what differentiates a Tankless Water Heater and a Traditional Water Heater.
Tankless Water Heaters
As it basically already is explained in the name, a Tankless water heater does not have a tank like a Traditional water heater does. Tankless water heaters are a demand type or instantaneous water heater. Which means that it creates, and releases hot water as needed. This also helps save energy, as a Traditional water heater will store hot water and prepare it, even when it is not needed at that time.
When you turn your hot water faucet on, cold water will run through a pipe, heat up, and will arrive to your faucet in a matter of seconds. It produces two to five gallons per minute. Either a gas, or electric element will heat up the water.
Traditional Water Heaters
Traditional Water heaters are more commonly found in a home. A traditional water heater offers a storage tank. Water is fed into the tank, heated from the bottom, and will rise and be released when needed. As the hot water is being used and pushed out, more water will fill the tank and the process will start to repeat itself.
With Traditional water heaters, there is an option of choosing either a Gas Powered, or Electric powered heater. The Gas fueled heater will run off of propane, or natural gas. Like an electric heater, the heating process is essentially the same. Although, gas powered tanks must be ventilated. This means when you install them, they must be placed in a zone where they are able to vent out. For some people, this may help in deciding whether to go electric or gas powered.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Tankless Water Heaters
Advantages
- You may install more than one in a home, to ensure enough hot water
- Parts are easily replaceable
- Can be up to 15% more efficient
- Uses less energy
- Longer life expectancy
Disadvantages
- More expensive to purchase
Advantages and Disadvantages of Traditional Water Heaters
Advantages
- Are less expensive to purchase vs. Tankless
- Quicker instillation
- Power outages do not affect Gas Powered water heaters
Disadvantages
- Have a shorter life span than Tankless
- Are more likely to run out of hot water
- Gas fueled are more expensive than electric powered
- Gas fueled must be placed in an area where they can vent out. Making it hard to install them based on location.
- Take up more space
- Consumes more energy
- Shorter lifespan