Switching To A Tankless Water Heater: Things You Should Keep In Mind

February 5, 2021
 | By 
Queen Plumbing Charlotte

A traditional water heater has a tank that stores heated water, typically used immediately. If you're lucky, your home will have one or two bathrooms and maybe a laundry room to use the hot water. When the storage tank runs out of heat, it takes time for the heat to build back up again—and if you have a large family or several bathrooms in your home, this can be frustratingly slow.

You probably already know what a tankless water heater is: it heats cold water on demand as soon as you turn on the tap—no waiting involved! This means that no matter how many people are taking showers at once or running their dishwashers, they'll each get an endless supply of hot water whenever they need it.

As an added bonus, since there's no need for constant heating and reheating water (like in traditional tanks), these systems also save energy costs over time by reducing energy loss during heating processes.

Signs That Indicate That It's Time to Upgrade To A Tankless Water Heater

A tankless water heater attached to wall and a washing machine is kept beside it
  • If your water heater is 12-16 years old or more, it may be time to upgrade to a tankless water heater.
  • Your water heater is leaking. If you have a leaky tank, it could indicate that the tank needs replacing.
  • Your energy bills have increased dramatically over the past few years, but they've been stable in recent months. This can signal that your current model isn't doing enough to save on heating costs and, therefore, might be ready for replacement with a new model that has better insulation features or other technologies that reduce energy consumption while providing hot water quickly and efficiently.
  • You don't have enough hot water at times when you need it most (e.g., taking showers). Water heaters are typically rated by how many gallons of hot water they can produce per hour; if yours isn't producing all the needed gallons at peak times (which usually occur during morning hours), then you may need an upgrade!

Advantages Of Switching To A Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters work better than conventional tank-based models because they provide you with several major benefits. They're more energy-efficient, so you'll save money on your utility bills. In addition to saving money, when the hot water tap is switched on, a heat exchanger in a tankless water heater makes instant hot water. The pros have been discussed more elaborately in the following:

Long-term Energy And Cost Savings

Switching to the tankless water heater can help you benefit from the following:

Lower Energy And Cost Savings:

A tankless water heater is more efficient than a conventional storage water heater, as it saves on electricity and gas. Tankless water heaters utilize less energy since they only need sufficient electricity to heat water when it's needed.

Lower Utility Bills:

Tankless systems typically use less than half of the energy used by conventional storage models, so you'll see better performance from fewer kilowatts consumed per month.

Unlimited Supply Of Hot Water

As stated above, one of the greatest pros of a tankless water heater is that it saves you money by only heating the water that you need. However, another benefit to switching to a tankless system is that it also provides an unlimited hot water supply. With traditional systems, you must wait for the tank to fill up with enough warm or hot water before using any outlets on demand; however, with a tankless system, this isn't necessary. This means that there aren't any type of restrictions on how much running or bathing you do in your home.

In addition to giving an unlimited supply of hot water at once, the ability of these devices is often enhanced by their ability to supply multiple outlets simultaneously (such as showers) with heated water without any delay or wait time between uses.

Less Space Consumption At Your House

Tankless water heaters, unlike their tank-based counterparts, are usually wall-mounted. This means that they acquire less space and leave you with more floor space in your bathroom or kitchen. This is especially beneficial for homes where the plumbing already runs through a wall and there's no room for a traditional hot water heater to be installed on the floor or in the attic. Tankless systems can also free up storage space because they don't require a large cabinet to house them.

But one of the biggest and greatest benefits of going tankless is how compact these units are—they take up less space than traditional models because they don't need an extra tank for storing hot water!

Lower Risk Of Leaks And Water Damage

Tankless water heaters do not have those storage tanks like the traditional ones, so there is no need to have tension about corrosion or rust. If a tank heater were to leak, it would cause significant damage to your home and family. Tankless water heaters can last up to three times longer than traditional tank heaters because they are more durable as well.

A Longer Life Expectancy

A tankless water heater has a longer duration of lifespan than traditional storage water heaters. A tankless water heater will last for 20 years on average, and not only does this save you money in terms of repair costs, but it also means that your home is more likely to stay in good condition for longer. Traditional tank heaters can only last up to 10 years before they need replacing or repairing, which means that you may have to replace them at least once before the switch-over point of 20 years has passed.

Is It Worth The Money Switching To A Tankless Water Heater?

Latest tankless water heater installed on the wall

The expenses of switching to a tankless water heater are more than a conventional water heater, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. Installation and setting up a tankless water heater can be expensive because of the size and complexity of the installation process. The expenses will vary depending on how much plumbing needs to be done to accommodate it, but expect that you'll spend anywhere between $2,000-$3,000 for installation alone.

Tankless water heaters use a lesser amount of energy than conventional storage tanks and have an average lifespan of 15-25 years compared with 10-15 years for conventional storage tanks. Also, the tankless models provide unlimited hot water without requiring you to wait while they refill themselves as traditional models do.

Tankless Water Heater Cost For Installation

The expenditure of switching to a tankless water heater depends on a number of factors. The first thing you need to know is the average cost of installation. This can vary wildly depending on whether or not there are gas pipes already in place if there are different fuel types available in your area (natural gas or propane), if permits are required for installation, and so forth.

The second factor that plays a role in determining the cost is the size and kind of heater you choose. Tankless heaters come with different BTUs per hour, which affects how much energy they use and thus their efficiency. As such, it's important that you do some research before choosing one so that you can get as much bang for your buck!

Finally, labor costs must be considered when estimating total costs. It is involved with installing tankless water heaters because they will differ from one location/company to another depending on the location's labor laws.

Tankless Water Heater Installation Procedure

While installing a tankless water heater is a simple DIY project, you should always be careful to avoid causing severe damage. Most people who choose to install their own tankless heater do so because they want to save money on plumbing costs or simply because it's fun! If you're interested in learning how to install your own tankless heater, keep reading for some helpful tips:

  • Safety First: The most important thing when installing a new tankless water heater is safety. Always be sure that you have turned off the power supply before attempting any installation or repair work on your home's pipes or electrical system.
  • Know What You're Doing: Be aware of specific safety and technical aspects when installing your own tankless water heater. This will help you prevent those big problems down the road when using your new heating system!

Replacement Procedure Of A Tankless Water Heater

Turn Off Fuel

First, you must turn off the fuel supply before attempting to remove the old water heater. You can do this by shutting off any gas or electric power to your current water heater, then turning off its pilot light and disconnecting it from any natural gas line or another source of fuel. Properly drain out all remaining propane in your tankless unit as well, which can be accomplished by turning off a valve on top of it in order to release residual pressure inside.

Turn Off Water

Next up: turn off the cold and hot water valves coming into your home's plumbing system so that they don't leak while you're moving things around behind them! You'll want to be sure that there is no water flowing through these pipes when working on them! The same goes for any hose bibs or toilets attached directly onto those same lines—if there isn't any pressure built up yet (or if there's ever been any), then it won't hurt if those remain open throughout this process; otherwise close them right now before anything else happens.

The Final Words

As you can see, tankless water heaters offer a number of benefits that make them worth considering. Not only do they save energy and provide unlimited hot water, but they can also reduce the risk of leaks or water damage and last longer than conventional tanks. The downside is that the initial cost is high, and it may be difficult to install.

Still, if you're looking for an alternative way to get your hands on an endless supply of hot water with minimal effort, think about switching over to a tankless model today!

Our specialized and professional team at Queen Charlotte Plumbing is always there for your help. They are one of the most known water heater experts in the town. If you need any assistance regarding the tankless water heater, then simply dial the number 704-707-3339 to reach us immediately. Our team of experts is there 24/7 for your help. Call us to grab your free quote today.

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