There’s nothing worse than a shower going ice cold while you’re in it. If that sounds overdramatic, it probably hasn’t happened to you. Accessing hot water reliably is an absolute necessity. If you’re facing water temperature problems, then you’re likely already in the market for a new water heater. When it comes to replacing your home water heater, there is no better option than a tankless one.
Tankless water heaters provide a more technologically-advanced service than their traditional counterparts. We can prove it, too. If you’ve noticed any of the following four signs, then it’s probably time to upgrade to a tankless water heater.
You’ve been scalded by your shower.
Tankless water heaters don’t apply the thermal stacking phenomenon that leads to scalds with traditional heaters. Thermal stacking happens when a water heater pulls hot water from its tank in short, repetitive bursts. When pulling hot water that rapidly, the heater flushes cold water to the bottom of the tank. Sensing that cold water, the heater activates the tank’s heating element to warm it.
Unfortunately, during this process, the heating element also heats the hot water at the top of the tank further–sometimes to scalding temperatures. When the heater sends this water to you through the supply pipes, it comes out hotter than it should be. Ouch. Tankless water heaters don’t use tanks (obviously), so this problem can’t occur.
You constantly run out of hot water.
Tankless water heater systems work by utilizing electrical components that heat water on demand. They don’t have to store water or keep it pre-warmed for use, and there’s nothing to refill after depletion. Instead, they supply as much hot water as you need when you need it, as you need it.
In other words, you won’t “run out” of hot water in the same way as you might with a conventional water heater. If your water heater can’t keep up with your demand for hot water anymore, try switching to a tankless water heater.
You’re shocked by your monthly energy bill.
Tankless systems definitely cost more to install than conventional water heating systems. The technology is newer, more advanced, and more efficient. After the initial cost, however, tankless water heaters cost far less to operate and maintain than their conventional counterparts. Conventional water heaters warm up water non-stop in order to keep a hot water reserve in their tanks. That means they’re running–and burning through energy–nearly constantly.
Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, don’t keep hot water reserves. They only turn on and heat water when you request hot water. They don’t run–or consume energy–nearly as frequently as their conventional counterparts. Consequently, tankless water heaters cost far less to run than conventional water heaters. After installing a tankless water heater, your energy bill will cost less month after month.
You’ve run out of extra space in your home.
Tankless water heaters… don’t have tanks, so they take up far less space than conventional water heaters. If you can’t spare much space for a water heater, a tankless water heater may be a better option. Thanks in part to their compact, efficient design, tankless water heaters are flexible. It’s easy to make a tankless water heater work in nearly any style of home environment.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits and costs of a tankless home water heater, give Mike Diamond a call. Our team of expert plumbing technicians will talk with you about your needs. We’ll help you choose the right type and size of heater for your home. You’ll never have to worry about an unexpected freezing shower again!