843.582.0670
Everything You Need to Know From Your Plumber About Tankless Water Heaters | Conway, SC
Photo By BanksPhotos at istock
Tankless water heaters are increasingly becoming more popular among local homeowners. This is because they have several benefits over conventional heaters. With a tankless water heater, you get instant hot water as it’s designed to heat water on demand. However, they do have some limitations that we need to talk about. Read this article so we can help you make an informed decision on whether or not to install tankless water heaters for your home. Should you decide to install, make sure that you work only with a professional plumber in your area.
What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
Most homeowners prefer tankless water heaters because of their compact design and energy efficiency. They heat water only when it’s needed. A conventional heater needs to store water in a tank and continuously needs to heat the water until it’s ready for use. As a result, you use up more energy.
One of the advantages of a tankless water heater compared with a tank-style heater is it’s not limited by its size. With a tank-style heater, it can only deliver the amount of hot water that is stored and if homeowners need more, they will need to heat more water. The process could take longer. It can be very inconvenient especially when you are in a hurry. Speak with a professional if you have questions about how tankless water heaters work.
Whatever time of day you plan to shower, hot water will always be available with the tankless water heater. However, you do need to correctly size the unit to how many family members are in your household to ensure that you never run out of hot water for your home.
Speak with a plumber to know which type of tankless water heater you need to purchase for your home.
How Tankless Water Heaters Work
When you open the hot water tap, cold water runs into your tankless water heater and then an electrical or gas heating element is then triggered. It will heat the water as it passes through. And then it will leave your unit already heated.
Tankless water heaters are known to provide a constant supply of hot water as opposed to the conventional ones where you need to store and heat enough hot water for the entire family. With a tankless water heater though, you will need to consider the flow rate of your unit to ensure that you never run out. Consider speaking with a professional in Conway, SC if you want to know more about your tankless water heater’s flow rates.
If you have a big family, it would be best to get a tankless system with a high flow rate. This way, you can all use your water heater and you will never run out of hot water. Tankless water heaters with too low a flow rate will not be able to deliver enough hot water for a large family. Should you decide to install, speak with a plumber so they can help you decide what water heater to purchase and to ensure it’s installed correctly to avoid costly repairs down the road.
Should You Switch to Tankless Water Heaters?
Do you still have a tank-style water heater in your home? Speak with a plumber if you plan to install a tankless water heater. A professional would be able to help you decide which is the best tankless water heater for your home.
In comparison — a tank-style water heater heats and stores the water for later use. They last between 8 to 12 years, depending on how it’s properly maintained. You will need to have a space for it as most tanks are huge. A conventional heater can store up to 80 gallons of water. They are also more affordable but they need regular maintenance so they last longer.
A tankless water heater heats water on demand so you save more energy. They last longer than the conventional heaters — about 20 years. They are also more eco-friendly and have a compact design. It’s also important to get the proper sizing to ensure you never run out of hot water. It’s important that you work only with a professional plumber for the installation of both water heaters.
Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
They may be a little more costly compared to a tank-style water heater but in the long run, tankless water heaters are more cost-effective. This is because you get to save more energy. Because it heats water only on demand, there is no need to store and keep heating the water for later use.
Another advantage of tankless water heaters is their replaceable parts. When your tank-style heater leaks, it is likely that a plumber would advise you to completely replace the unit. With a tankless water heater, the parts can be repaired.
A tank-style heater needs more space whereas a tankless water heater doesn’t. With its compact design, a plumber can just easily mount it on your walls.
You get fresh hot water with a tankless water heater. It never stays on a tank that may contain mineral scale and rust. You also will never run out of hot water with the tankless water heater. Most importantly, it will give you peace of mind knowing that a leak is less likely to occur. You will never have to worry about flooding due to water heater leaks in your home.
One disadvantage of a tankless water heater is the initial cost. However, when you weigh the benefits of going tankless over conventional heaters, you get to save more with the former. And you get a constant flow of hot water.
Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach
Are you ready to install a tankless water heater for your home in Conway, SC? Get in touch with a plumber at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach. All our plumbers are licensed and highly experienced. We ensure high-quality plumbing services on every appointment. Call us today!