It's a "tankless" job...but somebody's gotta do it

All dad jokes aside, how neat is this thing? Cold water goes in, magic happens, and hot water comes out in an unending flow.

There's a lot to think about when considering if you want to convert your home to a tankless water heating system. It's a wonderful luxury to have an endless supply of hot water "on tap" but before you jump in and make the change, ask yourself these questions:

Why do you want a tankless system? 

• Do you want hot water faster?  If so, tankless is not the answer. 
  Hot water will still need to run through the lines and heat them up on the way to your faucet.  There are whole house circulation systems that can preheat lines and reduce wait time for hot water, but these require an additional installation (and run about $2,000).  There are also on-tap hot water heaters that can deliver hot water to your sink so you can have tea or ramen in moments.  These systems are relatively inexpensive but they are for small applications only.
  
  
• Are you hoping to save money on heating costs?  If so, tankless may not be the answer.
  Modern gas water heaters are efficient and cost only a few dollars per month to run.  Your savings may be minimal. 
  
  
• Are you hoping to never run out of hot water?  Tankless might be the answer.
  Sometimes, all a house needs is a larger tank, or to turn up the heat on the hot water heater.  For  large families, houses with large bathtubs or homes that may have multiple simultaneous users, tankless could be a great choice.

What state is your electrical system in? 

• Will you need to rewire the house? 
  Some tankless systems require a 220v line.  Unless you are planning to upgrade your electrical system anyway, this could be a large additional expense.
  
  

Is space at a premium?

• Townhomes, lofts, tiny houses, and granny flats can all use every square inch of space they can save.  If you have a small home on a small lot, the space that a hot water heater takes us can sometimes be put to better use.
  
  

Life expectancy

• Potentially, tankless systems can last up to 20 years, double the lifespan of a conventional water heater.  This could mean that tankless systems cost less in the long run.
  BUT
• Manufacturers of tankless systems use non-standard parts and often change their design specs.  It is entirely possible that the parts you need for a minor fix wont be available in 8, 10 or 12 years down the road.
• Many models require regular maintenance (sometimes as often as every 6 months)  or the warranty is voided.  This maintenance can add up over time.
  
  

Fear of flooding

• It's true, a busted water heater can mean 40, 50 or 60 gallons of water all over the floor.  And anyone who has had to clean up a flood like that would like to avoid it again at all costs.  But the best solution to this issue is a periodic visual inspection.  Go out to the garage, take a look at the heater.  If you see rust, or if it looks saggy or just not right in any way, call a plumber to come take a look.
  
  

Now that you've noodled your way through these points, feel free to give us a call and pick our brains about tankless.  Whether your thinking of converting or if you just want to nerd out and talk about this stuff, give us a call. We are happy to help.