Water heaters last roughly a decade, and then it’s time for a replacement. Suppose your water heater is reaching the end of its usable life. In that case, you might be looking into upgrading to a new tankless hot water heater in Sacramento, CA, rather than buying another tanked model. But is it worth it to make the switch? What kinds of benefits will you see when you make this change? Odds are, you’re going to see more benefits than you realize.
Perks of using a tankless hot water heater
Energy Efficiency
Imagine keeping a pot of water constantly boiling on the stove, just in case you need it. Not a great use of energy, right? And yet, that’s precisely what we do when we keep the tanks of our traditional hot water heaters warm and ready for us to use at any time. For most homes, your total hot water consumption only actually takes about an hour per day to heat. And yet, your water heater is constantly using gas or electricity, 24 hours a day, to keep that enormous tank of water at the right temperature, regardless of when you’re going to need the water next.
A tankless hot water heater doesn’t do this. It heats water on demand, operating only when you need the hot water—and it does it very quickly, so there are no concerns about waiting for the water to heat up for your shower. This can save you anywhere from 11% to 69% off your hot water heating bill.
Unlimited Hot Water Supply
Because a tankless water heater heats on demand, you don’t have to ever worry about emptying a storage tank. While it’s true that tankless water heaters do have a maximum flow rate (a maximum amount of hot water they can supply at once), they don’t have a limit to how long they can provide that flow of hot water. Your entire family can shower. You can wash your clothes and your dishes, then go take a shower, and still have the hot water you need for it.
Longer Life Expectancy
As we mentioned above, traditional water heaters will last about ten years. Typically, the storage tank is the first thing to fail in a tanked water heater. It will begin to rust and corrode, leading to leaks. Because a tankless water heater doesn’t have this part, it has a much longer life expectancy. It can stay functional for up to 20 years. Less frequent replacement means less money spent over time.
Uses Less Space
Those giant storage tanks take up a great deal of space. However, when you take the tank out of the equation, you need a lot less space for your water heater. While you might not have ever thought about the space it takes up in your utility closet or basement, downsizing your water heater to a tankless model could allow you to reuse that space for more storage. You could reasonably add shelving where the tank used to be and store plenty of boxes in that area.
Improved Safety
While major accidents associated with water heaters are rare, they do occur—and they’re usually in some way associated with your water heater’s tank. A malfunctioning anode rod or excess sediment buildup inside the tank can cause a buildup of extra pressure. If you don’t notice anything amiss, that pressure can continue to rise until the water heater finally explodes. This is a terrifying situation to be in, and no matter how unlikely it might be, it certainly doesn’t hurt to eliminate that risk. With a tankless water heater, this is not a concern. While pressure can build in a tankless water heater if the water overheats, it has a built-in safety device to release the pressure if it builds too high.
Switching to a Tankless Water Heater
While tankless water heaters can use the same water and gas lines as an existing gas water heater, some lines may need to be reconfigured, or, in some cases, you may need to install your tankless water heater in a different location. This often occurs because a tankless water heater cannot be vented through a chimney and must be directly vented to the outside.
However, the minor adaptations required to make this upgrade are typically worth it for the many benefits a tankless water heater provides. If you need a water heater replacement in Sacramento, CA, contact Bullseye Leak Detection today to schedule your replacement and learn more about upgrading to a tankless model. Our team of experts will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding making the switch.
