We are Considering Buying a Tankless Water Heater

- Gary in Prescott Valley

Gary, as you probably already know, tankless water heaters are a “hot item” today. I will attempt to give you the pros and cons of a tankless water heater and let’s see if a tankless water heater is the right purchase for you and your family. First and foremost a tankless water heater will save you money but they are not right for every family. Tankless water heaters first used in Europe after WWII, then eventually gained acceptance in Canada. It was not until the energy crisis of the 70’s that they became more popular in Europe and Canada, but still not acceptable in the US. At last, due to rising costs of energy, rising costs of water, Americans started to install these units. If the unit is correctly sized, properly installed a tankless water heater again, can save money, save energy and save water. One of the disadvantages of a tankless water heater is that they may be specific venting codes for these tankless gas units. It is critical to check with the permitting agency where you live. It is possible that due to codes, the requirements of venting may be cost prohibitive for installation in your home. Again, abuse and neglect are issues as they are with any water heater. Tankless water heaters have the ability to supply an endless supply of hot water. If you waste the hot water due to the ease and convenience of the endless supply, you will be spending more money. Tankless water heaters should not be confused with instant hot water in a home. It will still take as long for hot water to reach the opposite end of the home from the location of the tankless system. One of the questions to ask yourself before purchasing a tankless water heater would be to determine your need and use for hot water. A multi family household would benefit vs. a single person doing small amounts of laundry weekly. The savings will not be realized from a small single user vs. a larger family. It will take much longer to realize the savings for a small user vs. a larger family user.