What is a “tankless” water heater?
Also known as an “on-demand water heater,” a tankless water heater does exactly what the name implies: it heats water without storing it. As water passes through the heater on its way to your washer, dryer, bathtub, shower, or sink, a sensor detects the location and whether the heater should activate or not. When hot water is required, the heater kicks into action, delivering fresh, hot water to your home for as long as it’s needed. Important note: This article is primarily focused on gas-fired tankless water heater systems. We will be posting a blog shortly which addresses the unique benefits and potential drawbacks of an electric tankless system, as well as how it differs from a gas system. Many homeowners have discovered tankless water heaters as a surprisingly affordable, space- and environmentally friendly alternative to bulky conventional water heaters, allowing them to save energy, reclaim storage space, and have ready access to hot water whenever they need it. Because tankless water heaters only deliver hot water when and where it’s needed, a properly sized tankless water heater means no more cold showers, arguments over who’s used up all the hot water or waiting to do the dishes because someone’s using the bathtub! Ultimate Plumbing is proud to be your source for tank water heater to tankless conversion which is easy on your budget and your energy bill while still being responsive to your needs. Keep reading our frequently asked questions below to learn more about tankless water heaters, how they work and why a tankless water heater might be the right choice for you and your family!
Frequently Asked Questions About Tank to Tankless Water Heater Conversion
Ultimate Plumbing is the Mooresville and Charlotte metro area source for real answers, straight talk, and honest information about tank to tankless water heater conversion you and your family can trust!
Question: What is the lifespan of a tankless water heater? –Amanda, Mooresville, NC
Answer: With proper care and maintenance, a tankless water heater can deliver reliable hot water for at least twenty years. Some have been reported to function for twenty-five years or more, but to ensure maximum efficiency, you should figure on swapping out your system at the twenty-year mark. Since most tank water heaters have a service life of between 8-12 years with an outside service expectancy of 15-20 years, a tankless water heater has a clear advantage in terms of both reliability and the life you can expect from your system!
Question: Do tankless water heaters need maintenance? –Beverly, Charlotte, NC
Answer: Like tank water heaters, a tankless water heater does need to be inspected and serviced at least once a year to keep it working its best. In areas with hard water or homes which require unusually hot water, your system might need maintenance every six months. Recalibrating the thermostat, flushing and cleaning the system to eliminate mineral deposits, and ensuring the system is free of contaminants and blockages is just part of the tankless water heater maintenance routine that will keep your system working flawlessly for years to come. However, you should not attempt to maintain or service your system on your own. This may void the warranty or worse, damage the heating unit. When you need maintenance on your tankless water heater, you need a properly trained and licensed plumber like the pros at Ultimate Plumbing to make sure your system keeps working the way you expect and deserve, year after year.
Question: Do tankless water heaters take longer to heat up? –Calvin, Mint Hill, NC
Answer: Because a tankless water heater heats water only when it’s needed, it can take 10-20 seconds longer for hot water to start flowing than with conventional tank water heaters which store the water back and keep heating it until it’s needed. However, as long as you don’t exceed the flow limit of the system, once the hot water starts flowing, your supply of hot water is effectively unlimited. Most people find the slightly longer time for the water to heat up to be well worth knowing they can take a hot shower that lasts as long or they need or enough hot water to wash every dish in your house without breaking stride!
Question: Do tankless water heaters save energy? –Daphne, Denver, NC
Answer: Generally, yes, a gas-fired tankless water heater does save energy because of the way it’s designed. A tankless water heater is designed to deliver hot water only when it’s needed, instead of keeping a limited supply of water heated continuously until it’s required. In theory, this means the system only uses energy when hot water is required. In practice, your actual energy savings will depend on your average water usage and other factors. While you probably won’t be able to book a cruise or even rent a Ferrari for an afternoon off your monthly savings, assuming the same usage profile, you’ll almost certainly notice a downward trend in your average energy bill
Question: How much will a tankless water heater save me? –Eric, Hickory, NC
Answer: Our customers routinely report savings of $10 a month or more on their gas-fired tankless water heating systems. While you will almost certainly save money and energy, and reduce your carbon footprint, with a tankless water heater, your average savings will depend on several factors. How much hot water you’re using is the most obvious one. Keeping your unit properly maintained by appropriately trained and certified personnel is another A variable many people overlook is the size of your home, which will dictate how far the water has to travel and thus how much energy it requires to keep the water hot from the heater to tap.
Question: What are the pros and cons of on-demand hot water systems? –Frank, Davison, NC
Answer: A tankless water heater does have several key advantages over a tank water heater. Most customers can expect to see savings on their energy bill starting the cycle after the system is installed. Also, many customers find with gas unit installations, they can reclaim around 10 square feet, give or take. (Electrical unit sizes and styles vary, so the space savings on these units may be different depending upon the configuration of the space in which they’re used.) They can last about twice as long as a conventional water heater and when there’s a problem, it’s usually easier to diagnose and repair. However, tankless water heaters may not be right for every home. Many people may find the upfront expense of tank-to-tankless water heater conversion a tough pill to swallow. Some older homes may require upgrades to the plumbing and/or gas feed to accommodate the system properly. Some customers are turned off by the necessary maintenance, especially those who live in areas with hard or heavily mineralized water. With that said, most customers who switch to tankless find the savings over time, the ease of use, and knowing they have access to as much hot water as they need, whenever they need it more than offset the initial setup cost. If you’re considering switching, let Ultimate Plumbing offer you a free consultation to help you decide if a tankless water heater is right for you!
Can you run out of hot water with a tankless water heater? –Gerald, Lake Norman, NC
Answer: Yes, it is possible. An on-demand water system is designed to deliver hot water when it’s needed. However, the system does have a couple of limitations. First, the flow rate through your house’s plumbing imposes an absolute limit on how much water is available to the house at one time. This means if you’re running the shower and the dishwasher at the same time, you shouldn’t have a problem. But if you’re doing dishes and someone’s using every available shower or bath and running a load of laundry through the washer and running water to cook dinner all at the same time, you’re also probably going to run up against the upper limits of your heater’s capabilities very quickly. Also, the size of your house makes a big difference in how much water is available where at any given time. In a small house, say a two-bedroom, one-bath, you could realistically expect not to run out of hot water no matter what. But as the size of the house and the number of available outlets increase, so does the likelihood of running out of hot water. Larger homes may require multiple tankless water heaters to keep up with demand, especially larger homes that have a lot of household traffic.
Is it worth switching to a tankless water heater? –Hilda, Dallas, NC
Answer: The short answer is, “It depends.” The longer, more accurate answer is that the size and age of your home, the type of water in your specific area, and the difficulty and expense involved in achieving the conversion and the condition of your plumbing will all make a difference. However, once the conversion is complete, as long as you keep up on your maintenance, you can expect twenty years of worry-free hot water for less expense and lower energy use than a conventional tank water heater. Between the reduced bills, increased space in your garage or attic, and access to hot water when you need it, most people who have a tank-to-tankless water heater conversion never look back, and the system should pay for itself over its lifetime.
If you’ve been considering switching from a tank water heater to a tankless system, Ultimate Plumbing is here to help. Click here to contact us for a free consultation and let us show you why a tankless water heater might be the best choice for your home’s hot water needs today!
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