Tankless Water Heater vs. Tank: Pros and Cons 

When your water heater is no longer keeping up with your family’s needs, what should you choose for your next replacement? The best water heater for your NOVA home will offer reliable access to hot water for uninterrupted laundry, washing, showers, and more. Wondering if you should stick with a traditional tank unit or go tankless? In this blog post, we’ll discuss advantages and disadvantages of both water heater types.

What Is a Tankless Water Heater?

Traditional water heaters are built around a large tank that stores heated water. Tankless units have no tank. Instead, they heat the water on demand as soon as a hot water tap is activated elsewhere in your home. Both types are available in gas and electric options.

Pros of Switching to a Tankless Water Heater

Replacing your traditional water heater with a tankless unit can bring positive advantages. Also known as demand-type water heaters, they offer unlimited hot water; no more waiting to shower after the tank has been depleted.

Can a Tankless Water Heater Help You Save Money

Tankless water heaters are designed for highly energy-efficient operation. Though they may cost more upfront, the long-term savings can be significant. They tend to have much longer lifespans than traditional units.

While a tanked water heater constantly expends energy to keep the contents of its tank hot, tankless models only operate as needed. Thanks to their highly efficient design and operation, monthly operating costs are significantly lower than those of traditional tanked water heaters.

When Is a Tanked Water Heater a Better Choice?

Traditional water heaters perform better in larger homes or homes with very high hot water demand. They also often have lower installation costs.

For Large Households

Tankless units heat about 2 to 5 gallons of water per minute. A large, gas-powered model is your best option if you’re looking for the highest possible flow rate, but even they aren’t always able to keep up with large homes with multiple residents. In these cases, simultaneous use of appliances and showers can overwhelm tankless water heaters. Installation of multiple tankless units can address this.

To Save on Installation Costs

Switching to a tankless unit can come with significantly higher installation costs than simply replacing a traditional unit. Not only are the heaters themselves more expensive, they usually require more complex work on plumbing and gas lines.

For Homes With Hard Water

Hard water results from a water supply with high amounts of minerals like calcium or magnesium. This can cause scaly buildup in plumbing components, and tankless water heaters are particularly susceptible to problems.

Which Is the Best Water Heater for Your Northern Virginia Home?

Every home is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. When deciding on a water heater, there are multiple factors to take into consideration:

• You’re interested in long-term savings: Though traditional water heaters are less expensive to install, tankless units will use less energy to operate, meaning lower utility bills. They also have much longer lifespans than traditional units.
• You’re planning to sell your home: If you’re selling soon, a tankless water heater should have a more positive impact on the market value of your home.

Why Choose Us?

Throughout Northern VA, C.B. Lucas has built a reputation as the leading HVAC and plumbing services provider. For over 45 years, we’ve been family-owned and -operated, committed to superior service based on trust, dependability, and customer satisfaction.

Contact the C.B. Lucas experts to learn more about water heater services in and around Northern VA.