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Tank or Tankless? What Kind of Water Heater Is Best?

If you need a new water heater, you can either invest in a traditional or tankless version. Tradition versions store water in tanks, which can typically hold between 30 and 50 gallons. The water in those tanks is heated so that it’s ready to be used at any point. In contrast, tankless water heaters warm the water on demand. They’re often called on-demand water heaters for this reason. Both types come with benefits, so which one should you pick?

Traditional Water Heaters

Traditional water heaters are very common, and their affordable price tags and reasonable installation costs have helped them attract attention from homeowners. Additionally, they’re straightforward in terms of maintenance and repair. In the future, you probably won’t have any trouble finding someone to assist you with tune-ups and repairs for a traditional system.

With a traditional water heater, you’ll have a large quantity of hot water that will always be ready for your household, and it’ll flow at a high rate. It’s likely that more than one person can take a hot shower at the same time, and you won’t have to wait too long for the hot water to come out. The hot water will continue to be replenished as you use it.

However, there’s a possibility that you could use all the hot water in the tank before the system has a chance to replenish itself and heat the water in the tank again. Plus, heating all of that water takes a lot of energy, especially since some heat escapes from the tank. Also, traditional water heaters take up a considerable amount of space. People in smaller homes might not have that much free space to give up.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters work much more efficiently, so they’re gaining popularity. While they do have higher price tags and installation costs, they’re associated with lower utility bills. This is because they don’t have any standby heat loss like what you’d find in a traditional system.

With a tankless system, you’ll never run out of hot water since the water is heated when you need it. On the other hand, the flow rate might be restricted, so multiple people might not be able to use hot water at the same time.

Tankless water heaters don’t take up very much space, so they’re quite versatile. Another factor that works in their favor is that they’re expected to last longer than traditional water heaters. They may last 20 to 30 years, which could be double the lifespan of many traditional systems.

Compare the Pros and Cons

When deciding between a tankless and traditional water heater, take efficiency, price, versatility, and practicality into consideration. Contact Roberson Plumbing & Septic for water heater services in Wilson, NC.