When you are looking to replace a water heater, it makes sense to do some research to see what the best solution is. Remodeling, even without the need for a new water heater, may also send you in search wondering if tankless water heaters are worthwhile.
If you follow our blog, you will probably guess that we won’t have a direct answer for you, because the answer depends on your specific goals and budget.
Tankless water heaters have come a long way in the last decade. When they first came out, we rarely recommended them, but the prices have come down and with new laws around water heater efficiency, we have now found a place for tankless water heaters.
What is Your Current Water Heater Configuration?
If you are looking to save money on a water heater replacement, swapping a water heater for another with the same power source usually saves you the most money. For example, an electric water heater is swapped for another electric one.
Needing to reconfigure vents, piping and energy sources adds cost. Tankless water heaters usually will require a configuration change, and this should be considered in their cost when you are considering their long-term value.
What is Your Current Hot Water Demand?
When switching to a new water heater, consider if you need a larger or smaller tank. Keep in mind that your new water heater is very likely to be more efficient than the last.
A smaller tank will take up less room, be more efficient, and cost less. However, most people don’t decrease in size because they enjoy not running out of hot water, especially when running multiple appliances such as the dishwasher, washing machine, and shower.
It may be worth upgrading to a larger tank if your household size has grown and/or if you are finding that you run out of hot water before you want to.
Likewise, if you find you have hot water demands at peak times and need continuous amounts of water, you could consider a tankless water heater. If you don’t have very much room to work with, this may also make a tankless a better option than a traditional residential 30 or 40-gallon water heater.
Are Tankless Water Heaters Worth It?
Commercial kitchens that need constant hot water during peak times, and large households that require more hot water can benefit from tankless water heaters.
Tankless water heaters are also very convenient for homeowners who have limited space for a water heater and are building a new home or renovating, making reconfiguration a non-issue.
Additionally, tankless water heaters are easier to service due to the technology that creates error codes that plumbers can troubleshoot directly. Training for this type of service is readily available to plumbers and owners of tankless water heaters should ensure the plumber they have hired to do service and/or repairs does have this skill set.
If you think a tankless water heater might be for you, we encourage you to call and schedule a free consultation. The plumber will look at your current system learn more about your hot water needs and offer some suggestions for you. Garvin’s Plumbing and Sewer is happy to be part of the Rinnai Pro Network which allows us to sell and service their tankless water heater models. We are also able to sell and service traditional models.
