You’ve had your traditional tank-type water heater in your Columbus home for almost a decade, so you know it’s going to break down one day soon. After all, most tank-type water heaters only last from 8 to 10 years, even with regular maintenance. When the time comes, you’re thinking about upgrading to one of those tankless water heaters you’ve heard about. You like the idea of greater efficiency … and never running out of hot water. Does that make tankless your best choice?
What makes tankless water heaters different?
Most Columbus homeowners are familiar with the traditional tank-type water heater. It’s a fairly simple appliance – an insulated metal tank that holds 50 or more gallons of water. Either a natural gas burner or electric elements are used to heat the water to a constant temperature, often 120 degrees. When you use hot water for showering or washing the dishes, water enters the tank to replace what’s been removed, and the tank is reheated to the desired temperature. As the name implies, a tankless water heater doesn’t have a storage tank.
Hot water as it’s needed
Instead, a tankless water heater heats water at the moment you need it. When you turn your hot water faucet and the water starts to flow, the tankless water heater instantly heats that water to the desired temperature. Unlike a tank-type heater that holds a limited quantity of water, the tankless water heater keep heating as long as you keep running the water. Even if your teenager takes a half-hour shower, they won’t run out of hot water – and neither will you, if you’re next in line!
An unlimited supply
If your Columbus home has a tank-type water heater, you’ve probably experienced those times when you run out of hot water. Few things are more frustrating than a shower that suddenly starts running cold because someone else has used up most of the water in the tank, and it hasn’t had enough time to heat the replacement water. A tankless water heater can’t run out of water. Anytime the hot water flows, the tankless water heater is working for you.
More efficient energy use
Tank-type water heaters have to keep all those gallons of water hot 24 hours a day, even if you use hot water only for several minutes here and there. Let’s say you typically shower in the morning, go to work, and don’t use hot water again until you’re ready to wash the dinner dishes. Even with nobody in the house, your tank-type water heater keeps heating the water in the tank, wasting large amounts of energy. Tankless water heaters only work when you need hot water. As soon as you turn the hot water faucet off, they stop heating. That means your energy use better matches your lifestyle and household needs. Depending upon how much water your Columbus household uses, the U.S. Energy Department says you could use as much as 34 percent less energy with a tankless water heater!
A longer service life
No matter how much effort manufacturers put into improving tank-type water heaters, most of them aren’t likely to provide more than a decade of reliable service before they spring a leak or otherwise break down. Most tankless water heaters are designed to provide at least 20 years of reliable performance, and with regular maintenance and replacement of key parts, many models may last even longer.
Better long-turn economy
Sometimes, Columbus homeowners are hesitant to choose a tankless water heater because the initial cost is higher than for a comparable tank-type model However, when you factor in the longer life span and significantly lower energy bills associated with tankless water heaters, they’re usually a much better value. Most homeowners will recoup the higher cost within the first few years, thanks to lower energy bills. (And we all know energy costs just keep climbing!)
Is a tankless water heater right for your home?
Deciding whether a tankless water heater or a tank-type model is right for your home depends upon a long list of factors. That list starts with how your family uses water … and how much you use. If you’re just a couple with basic water needs, you may not benefit as much from a tankless water heater. But if your family is larger and your kids tend to go through what feels like thousands of gallons of water each week, you’d probably be better off choosing tankless.
Turn to the tankless water heater experts
When it comes to determining whether a tankless water heater is the right choice for your Columbus home, nobody knows better than the water heater experts at Johnson Comfort. We’ll be happy to discuss your needs for hot water and determine which choice is best. Our experts are happy to answer your questions and provide any information you need to make a confident decision. Don’t water until your current water heater leaves you cold … call us today for a no-obligation appointment to explore your choices!
