Time to Go Tankless: Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

Written by deNovo / October 4, 2024

The world of water heaters used to be filled with large, clunky, and eventually inefficient tanks. They took up a lot of room, warmed water slowly and intermittently, and ran up utility bills. Plus, as age crept in, rust showed, cracks formed, and a flooded basement was a major risk.

That’s all changed.

Discover the benefits of tankless water heaters—from space-saving designs and peak efficiency to quick and unlimited hot water—and get details about the installation process.

What is a Tankless Water Heater?

Also known as an on-demand or instantaneous water heater, a tankless unit heats water as it flows through the system as opposed to storing water in a tank. When you turn on your hot-water faucet, cold water goes through a heat exchanger, with either a natural gas burner or an electric element warming the water. Tankless water heaters also usually come with advanced features, including digital thermostats and remote-control capabilities.

3 Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters

The design, functionality, and installation give tankless systems a few clear perks.

The Heat Doesn’t Stop

We’ve all been there. You live in a multi-person household with several people taking showers, using the sink, or running the washing machine. Suddenly, you run out of hot water. Those days are over with a tankless water heater, as the design delivers a fast and constant supply of hot water. With no tank, the unit doesn’t work off capacity; it functions off demand, meaning you’ll never run out of hot water.

Space Saver

A typical tank water heater is about two feet wide and five feet tall, taking up a significant amount of space in your basement or utility room. Meanwhile, a tankless water heater is only about 16 inches wide, 26 inches tall, and six inches deep. Plus, most tankless water heaters are installed on a wall, saving floor space.

Longer Life. Lower Bills.

A standard tank water heater lasts an average of 8-12 years. A tankless option can last 20+ years if properly maintained! They also have easily replaceable parts that could extend their life even longer.

And while a tankless system has a higher upfront cost due to equipment pricing and the installation process, the long-term savings are real. For every dollar you put into heating with a tankless natural gas system, about 96 cents of it heats your water. With a tank type natural gas water heater, only 62 cents of that dollar heats water. The remaining 38 cents of the heat energy from the natural gas never gets transferred to the water and is sent up through the flue along with the combustion gases! Tankless units provide energy efficiency and sustained cost savings.

Tankless Water Heater Installation

Our team has years of experience installing tankless water heaters, helping simplify the process.

Each home is different, but generally, these are the core steps we take to ensure a safe and effective installation.
1. We need to first find a place to install the tankless water heater, weighing your preferences while adhering to code requirements.
2. After that, we create a way to safely vent the unit.
3. The plumber then needs to ensure proper gas flow and electrical power. Finding the optimal amount of gas and right size water lines based on the pressure and size of your home takes an experienced plumber.

Thinking About a Tankless Water Heater?

Hanna Plumbing & Heating is proud to carry and install Navien tankless water heaters, ensuring peak efficiency and performance from one of the leading brands in the industry.

Contact our team to discuss options for your home and get a free estimate.