The Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
Thinking of making the switch to a tankless water heater? You may want to consider these points before purchasing.
Tankless water heaters have been drawing a lot of attention lately. Makers of these units often promise dramatic energy savings and endless hot water flow. However, this may not always be the case.
In several studies by Consumer Reports, tankless water heaters were found to have a slow return on investment. In fact, it could take up to 22 years to see the benefits. Tankless water heaters work when quick-acting, high-powered burners heat the water as it flows through a heat exchanger. A typical tankless water heater can cost between $800 and $1,150, almost double the cost of the more traditional storage-tank heaters. In addition, installation can be significantly more expensive if upgrades are needed to electrical outlets, water or gas lines, or pipes, as is often the case with the tankless units.
Tankless units work best for those that:
- Can install the unit on an exterior wall (thus cutting the cost of the ventilation sytem);
- Use hot water infrequently (high-volume usage can significantly increase heating costs);
- Live in a moderate climate (helping to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat cold groundwater); and,
- Have soft water systems (hard water can cause pipes to clog).
Although this is discouraging, there are viable alternatives in new, hybrid systems. The hybrids still have the coventional electric storage heater but are combined with a heat pump that extracts heat from the air and uses it to help heat the water, thus reducing energy costs. These units can see paybacks in years instead of decades. In addition, federal tax incentives could be available for hybrid models, another savings point that should be taken into consideration when deciding which type of unit makes the most sense for your household.
What Others Are Saying
Auth, on 04/30/2012, said:
Wonderful knowledge! I’ve hpeapn to be searching for something like this for a while currently. Thank you!Cost effective Did there job Easy to contact Efficient Professional
Add Your Thoughts