What You Need to Know Before Buying a Tankless Water Heater

Tankless, or instant, water heaters certainly have appealing aspects like never running out of hot water. But before you make the decision to purchase one, take a few minutes to decide if a tankless water heater is right for your home and family.

Tankless water heaters are known for their endless supply of hot water, but they also help homeowners save on energy costs.

Keep reading or reach out to our Brooklyn water heater experts to learn more about tankless water heaters and if it’s the right fit for your needs!

Tankless Water Heater Pros

1) They take up less space

The average traditional water heater is about 54 to 60 inches tall and 20 inches in diameter while a tankless unit is only about 27 inches tall, 18 inches wide and 10 inches deep.

2) They rarely leak so they cause less water damage

There are some issues that might cause some minor leaks but these won’t flood your entire basement or utility room.

3) They have a longer life cycle

Tankless units last about 20 years while a traditional water heater lasts about 10 years.

4) There’s zero risk of a tank exploding

Since they do not have a tank, dangerous amounts of sediment build-up cannot occur, making it explosion-proof.

Tankless Water Heater Cons

However, a tankless water heater is not for everyone. Some issues include:

1) They are more expensive

Traditional water heaters cost, on average, about a third less to purchase and install than their tankless counterparts. This is mostly because of the special wiring and other retrofitting that must be done to install a tankless unit.

2) They take longer to deliver hot water

While both types sometimes take a bit to deliver hot water, tankless water heaters can be a bit slower because the cool water in the pipes has to flush out before the heated water arrives.

3) They don’t work during a power outage

A traditional water heater stores several gallons of heated water that can be used before it also cools down due to a power outage. However, a tankless unit cannot produce any hot water without electricity.

Get some more information by checking out our Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters post! And if you’re still not sure, read our What Type of Water Heater is Right for You? post!

Brooklyn Water Heater Experts

If you are considering a tankless water heater, your Brooklyn plumbing experts at Petri Plumbing & Heating offer both tankless and traditional water heaters. Give us a call if you have any questions or to set up a consultation!