Choosing a Water Heater: Know the Facts Before Making a Purchase

The scenario - you're newly married, you've bought your first home, and the water heater needs replacing. Or let's say, you've owned your home for years, the water heater's gone out, and now you need a new one. Whatever the reason, you're shopping for a new water heater.

Shopping for a water heater begs the question - which type do you choose? Do you go with the one you have already? It's probably tanked. Or, do you choose the technologically advanced variety - the tankless, on-demand water heater everyone's boasting about?

Don't navigate toward a tanked water heater without exploring all of your options. You probably know how a tanked water heater works - whether or not they're efficient. You understand those, but do you know anything about a tankless water heater?

Before you replace your water heater, explore your options. Learn a little about on-demand water heating and if it's right for you.

Below is a brief tutorial, a little information to help you understand how beneficial a water heater can be. The information I've incorporated should help make your decision a lot easier.

Water Heater Basics

Point of Use: Point of use water heaters supply hot water to a specific area. So if you need a little extra hot water in the kitchen, you would install this water heater under the sink. Because it's tankless, it fits under the sink easily.

The same concept applies to the bathroom or the garage or any add-on that's not connected to your gas water heating system. A point of use water heater is ideal for areas where hot water is not available.

This type of water heater is a great supplemental source, too. So if your tanked water heater runs out of hot water, the point of use tankless water heater will pick up the slack. There's never a hot water shortage when you use a tankless water heater.

Whole House: Whole house water heaters do exactly as the name implies - they provide hot water for an entire household. Usually installed in a garage or closet, this tankless water heater supplies an endless amount of hot water. Different from your tanked water heater, the amount of hot water you use is limitless.

You know that a tanked water heater is usually 30-40 gallons in size and stores hot water until you use it. In comparison, a tankless water heater heats water as needed. It doesn't store it. Turn on the hot water tap and enjoy instant hot water for the duration.

You and your family can take showers at the same time. You can run the dishwasher and launder clothes while the shower is running. The hot water won't run out and all faucets in the household are duly supplied.

How is this Possible? I Knew You Would Ask that Question

Your tanked water heater is warmed by a pilot light that's constantly burning. Water is stored until it's used. Once it's gone it must be reheated before more is available.

A tankless water heater doesn't store hot water. Powerful heat exchangers heat water as it passes through the system. The heat exchanger is typically either electric coils or a gas-fired burner and is activated by the flow of water.

Incoming water circulates through the heat exchanger before it's dispensed through the faucet.

Typically a point of use water heater is electric and a whole house water heater is gas - propane or natural gas. However, there are whole house water heaters that are electric. Both are effective. The energy source you choose should depend on your use and costs.

What Makes them Better than Their Contender?

Tanked water heaters store hot water and heat it continuously, so you're paying standby rates. Whether the water is used or not you're paying for it to be heated and stored. Alternatively, tankless water heaters don't so you're not procuring standby losses. For this reason, water heaters are cost effective.

Tankless water heaters are eco-friendly, too. Because tankless water heaters only heat water when required, you're not burning precious energy. Today, utilizing a clean energy source is important.

If you choose to install an electric water heater, you're using a much cleaner energy source. Even if you opt for a gas water heater, know that the tankless variety only heats water when it passes over the heat exchanger.

Another positive feature is reliability. A tankless water heater will last years. Because tanked water heaters store hot water 24 hours a day, the potential to rust and erode is high. Sediment sits at the bottom of your tanked water heater which means the water dispensed isn't always clean.

In addition, tanked water heaters supply a continuous amount of hot water. There's no shortage. You won't run out of hot water in the middle of a shower. Enjoy hot water at any time. Using a tankless water heater makes it easy.

On-Demand Water Heater Benefits

Instant hot water
Highly effective
Consistent
Space saving
Environmentally friendly

Water Heater Maintenance

All water heaters require regular cleaning. Calcium and lime scale build-up must be removed. If build-up occurs in either of these water heaters the result differs.

A tankless water heater won't dispense hot water if the build-up becomes too much. Most models feature an error code that will light up if it's a problem. A tanked water heater will leak or implode, causing severe water damage. There's no way to know when and if this is going to happen.

Enjoy a water heater and know that it's a cleaner, efficient hot water source that won't damage your personal property.

The Perfect Upgrade

I hope you understand how great tankless water heaters are. Switching from a tanked water heater to a tankless one is a good idea. They're cost effective and reliable.

You should know that because tankless water heaters are efficient many home owners are receiving incentives for buying one. Depending on your area, you can enjoy up to $300 in tax credits. The idea is to cut back on energy use and switching to a tankless water heater is a great way to do it.