Which Water Heater Should you Choose?

Posted: October 13, 2015

Posted: October 13, 2015
Posted by: Gerald Kuller, Home Comfort Manager

If you’re not getting as much hot water as you need, you might be considering a new water heater. But which should you choose — traditional or tankless?

You need to have a properly functioning water heater that you can depend on to meet your family’s needs. There are pros and cons when it comes to which type of water heater to buy for your home. We can help you choose the most efficient and affordable option for your family. Here is a guide to help you make an educated decision.

First the basics. A traditional water heater stores and preheats 30-50 gallons of water in a tank. That preheated water is used whenever someone showers, does laundry, or washes dishes. The tank then refills to be reheated once again. A tankless water heater uses a heat source to warm up cool water on demand whenever you need it rather than storing hot water in a tank.

Traditional water heaters have a lower initial cost; a traditional water heater installation can be half as much as a tankless water heater, and less installation complications means there’s less that can go wrong.

But they have a shorter life — about 10-15 years. They occupy more room. And worse of all — you can run out of hot water.

Tankless heaters may have a higher initial cost, and replacing a traditional water heater with a tankless system can be complicated. However, tankless water heaters may save you money in the long run. Tankless water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy efficient than conventional water heaters for homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily. They can be installed in lots of places, including on a wall, because they don’t take up much space. They deliver hot water on demand, and usually last longer.

We can help ensure that you have the correct system for your family’s size and energy usage, and discuss what brands and products are best suited for your unique needs. We’ll take the guesswork out of whichever water heater best fits your water usage, family life, and budget.

Whether you need an oil-, gas-, electric-, or solar-powered water heater, we can help. We sell, install, and service all types of water heaters. Read more here.

Contact us, or call us at 888-607-2621.