If you have a storage-type water heater (one with a tank) that is reaching its tenth birthday, it may soon be time to upgrade (that’s about how long this type of water heater lasts, on average).
When that time comes, you’ll have some important decisions to make about your water heater replacement, including how big it is (which should be based on how much hot water your family typically uses). But there’s another decision that you should be thinking about: whether to stay with a storage type heater or switch to a tankless propane water heater.
In a conventional tank water heater, the water contained in the storage tank is all the hot water in your home at that moment. If hot water in the tank runs out –say, if a person takes a long, hot shower – the next person may have to wait until the burner in your water heater heats enough water to refill the tank (how long a water heater takes to perform that task is referred to as its recovery time).
One of the biggest benefits of a tankless water heater is that it doesn’t store hot water at all. Instead, it heats water instantly – which means you’ll get an endless stream of hot water for as long as your home’s main water line keeps feeding it. Want to jump in the shower right after someone else has finished? Go ahead! Want to run the dishwasher at the same time? No problem!
Tankless water heaters are also incredibly efficient – mostly because they don’t have to reheat the same water over and over again just in case you need hot water right away. According to the United States Department of Energy, tankless water heaters are up to 14 percent more energy-efficient than conventional water heaters – and as you know, lower energy use = lower energy bills!
Another tankless benefit? You don’t have to worry about corrosion or leaks in the storage tank, because there isn’t one.
While tankless water heaters cost more up-front than conventional tank water heaters, they make up for that with not only the energy savings but with a longer lifespan: while conventional tank water heaters only last 10 to 12 years (on average), tankless water heaters have an average lifespan of 18 years. Tankless water heaters can even increase your home’s resale value by as much as four percent and help your home to sell faster.
Want to know more about all the ways a tankless propane water heater can work for your home? Contact the professionals at Poore’s Propane and Oil.
