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Should You Have a Tankless Water Heater Installed In Your Home? | Conway, SC
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With winter and it’s cold temperatures fast approaching, you may feel like it’s about time to upgrade your old water heater. Are you considering the latest tankless water heaters as an option? Before you make the purchase, you must learn what there is to know about having a tankless water heater installed in your Conway, SC home.
We’ll help you understand how a tankless system functions, the pros and cons of installing one at your home, and if its requirements and maintenance is worth the investment you’re planning to make.
How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?
When you purchase a tankless systemit’s important that you understand how it functions. The system doesn’t need to store water, instead it heats water directly. It employs a flow sensing device that activates when you turn on the hot water tap. Then the unit heats up the water using either an electric element or a gas burner, and supplies it to the hot water tap. The best part about tankless water heaters is that you can abandon your fear of running out of hot water. Upon closing the hot water tap, the unit senses and automatically shuts off the heating element.
Pros
Compact
Tankless water heaters are small compared to traditional storage heaters. They don’t occupy floor space as they’re wall mounted. If you have a small house, its petite size might seem to be quite an attractive feature for you.
Energy Efficient
Heating water accounts for almost 30% of your energy bills. These tankless systemswould help you save money on your power bill. Once a plumber installs it at your home, you will notice a significant 50% decrease in costs.
Safer
Using this system is a wise choice as they’re highly durable and safe for use. It won’t flood your place in case of a leak, neither does it harbor Legionella bacteria. Even in case of back drafting, it won’t leak carbon monoxide into your home.
Cons
Expensive
A tankless water heater is quite an expensive investment. Other than the upfront cost of the system, when you contact a plumber you’d learn that the installation cost is also slightly higher than for a conventional water heater. Most cases require the existing pipe to be extended or relocated. A gas unit needs a safe vent too, to avoid accumulation of carbon monoxide inside your home.
High Maintenance
Tankless systems may stop functioning well in just a few years due to hard water. You need to completely drain the system and replace filters monthly. They also need to be flushed regularly. If you don’t maintain them properly they’re susceptible to failure.
Limited Hot Water Flow
The system’s capacity to heat water limits the hot water flow. Normally, hot water flows from tankless systems at the speed of 2-5 gallons a minute. This might not be sufficient for multiple simultaneous usage of hot water in your home.
No Hot Water During Power Outages
In case the power goes out, you won’t have any supply of hot water. Tankless systems don’t have a backup hot water source for emergency situations like conventional water heaters. This means you’d be left out in the dark with cold water running down the taps.
Gas or Electric
If you opt for electric tankless water heaters, it is a much affordable option compared to the gas models. The plumbers in Conway, SC would also charge you less for the installation as these units are easier to install. By installing these units, you can relax as their maintenance is not as hard as the gas versions. However, not many of these electric water heaters have the ability to serve several hot water outlets at the same time.
The gas tankless water heaters are available with a number of different models and sizes, both for home and commercial use. The output ranges from 130,000 to 380,000 BTUS. The higher the BTUs the higher the heating capacity of the unit. However, keep in mind that the majority of conventional gas tank water heaters weren’t set up with a tankless retrofit in mind. As a result, your home’s gas piping, meter and main line to the meter might not be properly sized and would need an expensive restructuring and installation. The gas systems also need a safe ventilation system which the electric units don’t.
A tankless systems energy efficiency, for both electric and gas units, is calculated using an energy factor (EF) rating. The EF rating is based on test procedures developed by the U.S. Department of Energy. The latest tankless system EF rating ranges between 0.64 and 0.91 for gas models and up to 0.99 for electric units. The higher the EF rating, the more efficient a water heater is.
If you live alone or with just one more person, an electric tankless system will be a sensible pick for you. However, if you’ve got a big family, go for a gas-fired tankless system.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve provided you with all the information that you need to know about tankless water heaters, you would be able to make a much more informed decision. Make sure that before you opt for them, you weigh the pros and cons. Also, consider if the units and its requirements fit your budget and if you’d have time for maintenance. Once you’ve made up your mind, call a plumber in the Conway, SC area for installation. If you’re looking for professional a reliable plumbing services in the Conway, SC area, contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Myrtle Beach.