Is your water heater on its last legs? Is it clanking and gurgling and sounds like it’s boiling rocks? If so, it’s time to replace it.
You can replace it with the same type of system, or with a tankless hot water heater.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a new tankless hot water system? If you aren’t sure whether a tankless hot water system would be a good fit for you, call the good folks at Raeco Plumbing.
Tankless Water Heater
In a nutshell, a tankless water heater does exactly what it sounds like. It heats hot water instantly without the need for a holding tank.
Cold water enters and flows through a heated copper pipe, taking just minutes to warm up before it comes out of your tap.
Instant Hot Water
Hot water on demand is one of the critical features of a tankless water heater. Hot water starts coming out, almost immediately from your tap.
When a faucet is turned on water is heated as it flows through a coil or heat exchanger. Hot water comes out of your faucet once the existing water in the lines is pushed out by the newly heated water. You might experience a few seconds delay, but this is predicated on the distance the water has to travel from your water heater to your faucet.
Unlimited Hot Water
Large families and others who appreciate long luxurious showers or baths will immediately appreciate a tankless hot water system.
Once the hot water starts flowing it will continue until you turn off the tap. Tank water heaters have a limited capacity. Whether you have an 80-litre tank or a 400-litre tank, it holds a fixed amount of hot water. Once the hot water is gone, you have to wait for the tank to fill and heat again. This can take several hours.
Tankless water heaters are very often included as part of a modern bathroom remodel.
Durability
A tankless water heater can last twice as long, or longer than a hot water tank system. The average hot water tank has a lifespan of about 10 years. Some will last a little longer, some less depending on what’s in your water.
Water with a high degree of total dissolved solids, particularly hard water minerals calcium and magnesium will shorten the lifespan of your hot water tank. When water is heated, these minerals fall out of the solution and fall to the bottom of the tank, creating a layer of sediment. This sediment interferes with the components of the water heater, causing them to fail.
Energy Efficiency
Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than traditional water heaters. Tankless water heaters have higher installation costs but will help you save in energy consumption over the life of the product.
When dealing with any contractor, be sure to check their licence status before agreeing to have any work done.
Tankless water heaters are a good fit for many families when they are considering replacing their existing hot water heating system.
