As electricians we are often asked about replacing traditional tank hot water heaters with tankless or on-demand water heaters.
Here are some the obvious pros and cons! Tankless water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed. This means that they are energy efficient and will save you money in hot water heating costs but the initial expense of the unit is higher. If leaving a smaller environmental footpring is important to you then you should definitely consider one.
Another benefit is the size. They are much smaller than traditional hot water heaters so they can fit in tighter space with their compact size. They also have the added benefit of a constant supply of hot water! They are also less messy if something goes wrong. Tanked hot water heaters can cause water damage when they fail as water usually escapes out the bottom covering your floor with water!
The last benefit we will discuss is longevity. Tankless hot water heaters tend to last much longer than the old fashioned tanked style. In fact, they can last 5-10 years longer than your storage style hot water heater and will also increase the value of your home to potential buyers.
Now let's explore some of the cons of the tankless style water heater. Some tankless water heaters provide inconsistent temperatures. They also can have limited output of hot water especially if many people are using energy at one time. If the power goes out they won't work either! If you have hard water you may want get a water softner first as hard water can cause calcioum buildup which ages your tankless heater.