Both tank and tankless water heaters provide the same main benefit of providing you with hot water. A big difference is in the way they do this. Learn more about this and some of the other differences between tankless and traditional tank hot water heaters.
Tank Water Heaters
A traditional hot water heater consists of a storage tank that holds the water. When you turn your faucet setting to hot, the heating element inside the tank heats up the cold water as it’s delivered to you. The water you then receive will be hot.
A big advantage of a tank water heater is that it has a ready supply of water. Whatever hot water you do use gets replenished by cold water that enters the tank. Also, regardless of the volume of heated water you need, the tank heater will be able to warm it up. This type of heater is also easy to use once set up. Depending on how hot you like your water, you can adjust the temperature control knob to the ideal setting. Besides this, though, there’s nothing more you really need to do when it comes to operating your tank heater.
One negative of a tank heater is that it can accumulate sediment over time. This sediment buildup can cause issues like longer heating times, which can raise your utility bills. This mineral buildup can also shorten the life span of the heater if not addressed. Cleaning your tank water heater of sediment requires periodic flushing. You can do this yourself, or you can reach out to a local plumbing company like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Lakeland, FL.
Tankless Water Heaters
A tankless water heater doesn’t have a big storage unit like the tank version. Instead, it heats up water through a heat exchanger as the water travels through the system. In this way, you get hot water on demand. The tankless heater only heats up water when you actually need it.
A huge advantage of this system is that it’s much smaller than the traditional storage tank, so it can use up much less space within your home. You’ll also save money on utility costs since, as mentioned, the tankless heater only heats up water when you really need it. These units also tend to last longer than their tank counterparts.
Having said that, a big disadvantage of a tankless system is that the initial installation costs will be high. Also, if you have an older home, you may need to pay a lot to retrofit your system to accommodate the tankless unit. This may include putting in a gas line if you don’t already have one.
Which Water Heater Is Right for You?
This all depends on things like the current system you have, your water and utility bill costs, and other factors. If you’ve always used a tank heater and you’re comfortable with this system, then it’s fine to keep using it. Just keep an eye on things like the age of your current unit, the temperature of the water, and your monthly utility bills. A new installation of a tank heater will generally be cheaper than that of a tankless system.
If you have a newer home and you want to take advantage of more modern technology, you may opt for a tankless heater. Again, just be mindful of the up-front costs for this type of system. After considering your budget, you may decide that a new tankless hot water heater is worth it and will pay for itself in the long run in the form of reduced energy and water usage.
For any questions you have about water heaters, reach out to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. We not only repair and install water heaters but also perform garbage disposal repair, shower installation, and well pump repair. To schedule service at your home in Lakeland, call us today.