When it comes time to replace your aging or ailing hot water tank, it’s important to consider all your options before choosing your new appliance. Begin by narrowing down your choice between a tankless or storage model water heaters with some help from the information listed below.
What’s the Difference Between Tankless and Traditional Water Heaters?
Traditional water heaters work 24 hours a day, typically in your basement, to keep a finite supply of hot water at the ready. These insulated tanks draw cold water in through a line at the bottom, heating it to the desired temperature with either an electric or gas burner. Hot water is drawn from the top of the tank downwards, delivering consistently hot water until the supply is depleted, and the next batch can be heated. Running out of hot water, and standby heat loss are two of the main concerns with tank water heaters.
Tankless water heaters work on demand, heating water only when called for. Water is channeled through pipes heated by either electric coils or a high-powered gas burner, eliminating standby loss, as no water is stored. The water heater is wall mounted, either near the point of use or centrally, in place of a traditional tank heater.
The Advantages of Going Tankless
The biggest advantage of a tankless heater is having a never-ending supply of hot water, but there are others as well, including:
- Increased efficiency in the absence of standby heat loss
- Reduced energy usage and a smaller carbon footprint, as power is only used when water is called for
- Elimination of flooding risks
- Greater lifespan than tank models, averaging around 20 years
One Size Water Heater Does Not Fit All
If you’re considering going tankless, it’s imperative that you calculate the flow rate carefully to ensure you’ll have enough hot water to accomplish common tasks simultaneously. The solution may be multiple tankless units.
Due to Calgary’s hard water, it is advisable to install a water softener if you don’t already have one.
To learn more about the benefits of tankless water heaters, call the Calgary plumbing experts at Arpi’s Industries, Ltd. We’ve been proudly serving homeowners in Calgary and the surrounding areas for over 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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