Why You Should Invest in a Tankless Water Heater

If you're looking to make an investment in your home, a tankless water heater is a good place to start. Learn more about the energy-saving appliances here.

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Getting hot water when you need it while also saving energy is a win-win proposition. Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand water heaters, provide hot water only when it’s needed so they don’t suffer the energy loss associated with traditional storage water heaters.

But is a tankless water heater right for your home? Here’s a look at how they work and some of the benefits.

How Tankless Heaters Work

Tankless water heaters take up much less space than storage water heaters because they heat the water directly. When you turn on the hot water, the cold water travels through a pipe and into the tankless water heater unit, where it’s heated by a gas burner or electric element. This allows you a constant supply of hot water.

On average, tankless water heaters can provide two to five gallons of hot water per minute. Gas-fired tankless water heaters, according to energy.gov, can produce higher flow rates than electric models.

For large families who go through a lot of hot water, installing more than one tankless water heater is common. This will ensure there is always enough hot water available for showers, laundry and the dishwasher.

These are the tankless water heater myths you need to stop believing.

What Are Some Advantages of a Tankless Water Heater?

Besides heating water on demand, there are other benefits of tankless water heaters:

  • While tankless models cost more than conventional storage models, tankless water heaters use less energy and typically last longer. Many tankless models last more than 20 years, versus 10 to 15 years for storage models. On average, the typical family can save about $100 per year with a tankless model.
  • Tankless water heaters also take up less space than their bulky counterparts. They can be mounted on a wall in a closet or in the basement.
  • With gas and electric models available, you don’t have to re-work your home’s infrastructure and invest in pricey labor-intensive installation methods.

Here’s how to install a storage water heater.

Rachel Brougham
Rachel Brougham lived through a major home renovation in 2019, knows the ups and downs of home improvement, and loves sharing tips with readers. A veteran journalist of both print and television, she’s won several awards for her writing and has covered everything from the environment and education to health care, politics and food. She’s written for several publications beyond newspapers including Bob Vila, Taste of Home and Minnesota Parent, and she currently writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column. Her memoir, Widowland, about the sudden loss of her husband, was published in 2022. She specializes in everything from home decor and design to lawn and garden, product reviews and pet care. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her tending to her garden (both vegetables and native plants), playing with her dog, watching sports with her family or getting some exercise. A native of Michigan, she currently lives in Minneapolis. An avid user of Instagram, you can follow her @RachBrougham.