The average traditional residential water heater should last up to 20 years with proper maintenance and regular inspections, but there will come a day when it ceases to function. When that day comes, you will have some decisions to make regarding its replacement. One of your options will be migrating to a tankless water heater. Its operation is simple; when a tap is opened it activates a switch which turns on the heating source, either gas or electric. The water passes through a heat exchanger where it’s heated to the desired temperature. Once the tap is closed, the switch shuts the unit off.
The two main reasons that tankless water heaters are becoming so popular are that they are very energy-efficient, and they can provide almost limitless supplies of hot water. Their energy-efficiency is due to the fact that there is no tank of water that has to be kept hot, regardless of whether or not its used; with a tankless model only the water that is needed is heated and it is heated only once. Since water is heated as it is needed, the supply is almost unlimited. Generally, the flow rate is about 5 gallons per minute, so that should be adequate for even the longest shower. You’ll also discover that since there is no holding tank involved, a tankless water heater takes up considerably less space than a traditional model; and the fact that there is no tank to rust out or rupture also means that there is almost no chance of your tankless water heater causing water damage to your home.
You do need to be aware that the initial cost of tankless water heaters will be considerably more than traditional ones, but over the course of its lifetime, the savings in energy and the convenience will more than compensate for that. Like any water heater, tankless models are susceptible to calcium build-up, so you will need to maintain them properly in order to get maximum efficiency and longevity from them.
Apex Plumbing & Sewer will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding tankless water heaters. They work by the job, not by the hour, they can offer you financing assistance, and should there be any emergencies, they are available at all hours of the day and night.
