Tank Or Tankless Water Heater. Which One is Better?
Posted by Moore Home Services
Plumbing
When it comes to most household appliances, we can’t think of anything more crucial than the water heater. Your water heater keeps you and your home clean, healthy, and comfortable. That’s why we hear the same question over and over again. Tank or tankless water heater, which one is better. While we can’t give a definitive answer to this question, the only thing we can say is to consider the pros, the cons, and what your needs are. These factors will let you know if a tank or tankless water heater is better for your home.
Tank Or Tankless – The Big Differences
Moore Home Services offers two types of water heaters—the traditional tank style, and tankless. Both water heaters have their strengths and weaknesses; choosing the right one depends on a variety of lifestyle factors. How big is your home, your family, and your budget? Though they both do the same job, there are significant differences.
Traditional Tank Type – The traditional tank type water heater is the one you grew up with in your family home and chances are, you still have this style in your current home. The traditional tank water heater stores a certain amount of water and keeps it warm until someone opens a warm water tap. These water heaters are fueled by electricity or gas. Oftentimes, the gas water heater is more expensive to buy, but less expensive to operate. While the electric water heater is less expensive to purchase, but more expensive to operate. The decision between the two should be based on what power type is already in your home.
Tankless – Tankless water heaters live up to their name. They do not have a tank, instead, they heat water whenever someone opens a warm water tap. For example, when someone opens a warm water tap, cool water will travel from the outside water supply into the water heater. The tankless appliance warms water as it travels through the system, negating the need for a tank. Like the traditional tank water heater, the tankless comes in both electric and gas versions and it all depends on which one works best for your home.
How Does a Traditional Tank Style Water Heater Work?
As we mentioned above, the traditional tank style water heater keeps warm water on hand until you need. The tank only refills when you run out of water. The process of refilling and heating the water starts with something called a dip tube. The dip tube is a long tube that runs from the top of the tank to the bottom. Using the scientific principle that heat rises, the dip tube deposits cool water to the bottom of the tank where it is heated. As the water warms, it rises to the surface where it stays until someone uses it.
Pros and Cons of a Traditional Tank Water Heater
One of the best and worst things about a traditional tank water heater is that it stores gallons of water at a time. This is a major pro because you can run both hot and cool water at the same time, making a warm stream instantly. Also, when you turn on the hot water, you can expect it to stay warm for a reasonable amount of time. The biggest con of this is that you will eventually run out of hot water. For larger households, this could mean that not everyone gets a warm shower in the morning. If you live in a smaller household, a traditional tank water heater should be just fine. Another pro for the traditional tank type water heater is that maintenance costs are relatively low and the appliance itself is rather affordable. The counterpoint to this is that traditional water heaters only last 10-15 years, so you may find yourself replacing them more often than you would want.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?
Once warm water is requested, the tankless pulls naturally cool water from an outside supply. The cool water is heated as is passes through the tank, ensuring your home never runs out of warm water. This appliance heats water without an existing supply, so this negates any need of a tank.
Pros and Cons of a Tankless Water Heater
Perhaps the best thing about a tankless water heater is that in theory it never runs out of hot water. It’s also small, so you can fit it almost anywhere in your home without it being obtrusive. One of the issues with a tankless system is that if you purchase the wrong size, it won’t have the capacity to supply warm water to tap in your house at the same time. So, you can’t take a shower and run the dishwasher at the same time. But if you invest in a larger system that is compatible with your home, this won’t be an issue. The biggest drawback we have is the upfront cost. Tankless water heaters save money on utility bills and do pay off over time, but the upfront cost can be a lot to handle for some.
Have Questions, Call the Experts at Moore Home Services!
If you want to know more about the differences between a tank and tankless water heater and which one is better for your home, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our expertly trained plumbers and HVAC technicians are ready to answer any questions you may have, and work with you to find a solution that is best for your home. To schedule an appointment, call the number at the bottom of the screen or click here to book a time online.
