Determining which water heater is best for your home can be a stressful experience, and you want to make the best purchase possible. Thankfully, there are just two different styles to choose from– a traditional water heater with a tank that stores hot water or a tankless style which creates hot water as needed. Deciding which style is right for your home simply comes down to certain key factors and your family’s hot water needs.
Before you commit to purchasing one particular style, you should consider the following factors:
- Your water usage
- Your budget
- Equipment efficiency
- Equipment lifespan
Once you’ve reflected on these factors, you’ll be able to make a more confident choice and know that you have the right water heater for your home.
Tank Water Heater
A tank water heater is the one people are more familiar with. Also called a “traditional” or “storage” water heater, this model has an insulated tank that usually holds 30-50 gallons of ready-to-use hot water. After hot water is used, it will automatically generate hot water to replace the amount used.
The tank water heater has several beneficial qualities. The unit and its installation are less expensive. With the tank, you’ll always have hot water ready to use. Plus, the maintenance and repairs are relatively inexpensive.
At the same time, be aware that the tank requires more space. Tank water heaters also have shorter lifespans, and you’ll likely have higher utility bills due to the constant heating of the water.
Tankless Water Heater
The second choice is the tankless or “on-demand” water heater, which is the newer water-heating technology that promotes better energy efficiency. The unit uses high-powered burners that heat the water as it runs through a heat exchanger and rapidly delivers hot water where needed, without storing it in a tank.
With the tankless model, you’ll save a lot of energy and your bills will cost less. There’s better quality temperature control and, without a tank, the unit takes up much less space.
You should know though that the unit, its installation, and any repairs will cost more. If you have a power outage, you won’t have hot water available, and it will be difficult to supply enough hot water if multiple people are using it at once.
Every home is different so it’s important to pick the model that is best for you and your family. If you’re unsure and would like to know more, take the time today and contact Orion Plumbing & Heating. We’re happy to help you make the right choice!
