When you’re due for a water heater upgrade, consider whether you want to get a traditional or a tankless system. Each offers its own benefits depending on the home it’s serving, but many homeowners decide that it’s worthwhile to invest in a tankless water heater due to the unparalleled perks it offers. Know what to expect to decide if going tankless is the right choice for your home, too.

What to Expect From a Tankless Water Heater

The Benefits

Tankless systems work by heating the water as you use it, rather than filling a tank and keeping it hot for future use. By avoiding the need to heat a large amount of standing water and the associated energy loss that occurs with a sitting tank, you’ll save a significant amount on your utility bill. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, switching to an on-demand system like a tankless heater can save up to 50% of your energy used to heat water.

Tankless systems avoid the issue of running out of hot water. Once you’ve used up all the water in a tank, you must wait up to an hour for it to refill and reheat. By heating up your water as you use it, the tankless water heater ensures you won’t run out—even if all your family members are taking showers one right after the other.  

The Drawbacks

Though it can consistently produce hot water all day, this system can only produce so much at a time. While the average tank heater puts out up to 9.5 gallons per minute, a tankless system puts out a maximum of 5 gallons per minute. This means that you can’t use too much hot water at once, such as doing laundry, running the dishwasher, and taking a shower simultaneously. You can easily avoid this issue by installing more than one in the home, such as a separate one for your hot water using appliances and another for your faucets, or by committing yourself to time management practices involving household chore schedules.

If you think a tankless water heater might be right for your home, you‘ll need a plumbing contractor to install it for you. Carolina Pipe Cleaning Inc. has been the trusted plumbing service company of Rowan and Cabarrus counties in North Carolina since 1999. This fully licensed, bonded, and insured company is known for efficient work and affordable pricing. The experts will help with everything from installation to preventive maintenance and emergency repairs. Learn more on the website and call (704) 279-1151 for a free estimate. Be sure to ask them about their 10% discount for new customers.