Every household seems to have at least two types of people: those who hop in and out of the shower in under 3 minutes, and those who seem to linger a half an hour or longer under the hot stream.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the average shower lasts about 8 minutes. Whether you fall above or below that count, we can all agree on one thing — there’s nothing worse than having your water run cold before you’re finished. If you like hot showers or if multiple members of your household tend to shower one after another or at the same time in different bathrooms, this may be a common problem.
One solution is to install a tankless water heater. But do these really work? And what does it take to have one installed? Keep reading to get answers to all of your tankless water heater questions.
What is a Tankless Water Heater?
Also known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, tankless water heaters do exactly what these names suggest; heat water on demand, rather than storing it and heating it in a tank. Traditional water heaters fill a specific size tank, depending on the size of that water heater. Each time the tank is drained, water has to be pumped into the tank and that water must then be heated.
Depending on the size of your tank, the age, and the efficiency, this can take some time. This means that if you use all of the hot water waiting in your tank, you may have to wait before the water from your taps runs warm again. Tankless water heaters solve this issue.
A tankless water heater uses a heat exchanger unit to quickly heat water as it passes through the unit. Because the water is heated much more quickly, no tank is required, and hot water is in constant supply. These units are also much smaller than traditional water heaters.
Drawbacks of Tankless Water Heaters
One drawback of a tankless water heater versus a traditional water heater is that the flow rate of your water may be restricted in order to allow the tankless water heater to heat the stream. Gas-powered tankless water heaters do heat water faster than electric ones, which allows for a faster flow rate.
Another side effect of a slower flow rate is that a single tankless water heater may not be able to supply hot water to different faucets in your home at the same time. For instance, in a larger home, you may not be able to run hot water in the kitchen and in the shower at the same time.
Opting for a larger tankless water heater, or installing more than one tankless water heater, can help with this issue. Some homeowners will opt to install a water heater for each of their home appliances that use a lot of hot water; for instance, one for the clothes washer, one for the dishwasher, and one for your shower.
Advantages of a Tankless Hot Water Heater
Besides never running out of hot water while in the shower, there are a number of other advantages of tankless hot water heaters. For some homes, they may be the more energy-efficient option. If you use 41 gallons or less of hot water each day, a tankless water heater will be 24 to 34 percent more efficient than a traditional water heater.
While a tankless hot water heater may cost more upfront, this energy savings will help to make up the difference over time. Tankless water heaters also have a longer life expectancy than traditional hot water heaters, which also helps to save money. With regular service and help from the vest water heater repair Las Vegas has to offer when something goes wrong, your tankless hot water heater could last more than 20 years. Traditional hot water heaters only last an average of 10 to 15 years, even with regular service.
Why Should You Install a Tankless Water Heater?
There are a number of reasons why homeowners may choose to switch to a tankless water heater. One, of course, is that their current water heater isn’t keeping up with the demand being placed on it. If your water heater was previously able to produce enough hot water for your family to get through their showers without experiencing the dreaded cold stream, water heater repair Las Vegas may be able to help. Your water heater could be in need of service, after which you might go back to enjoying your long hot showers.
But if your hot water heater is approaching that 10 to 15-year life expectancy, upgrading to a tankless water heater may be the better choice. With more energy efficiency and a longer life expectancy, not to mention on-demand hot water, a tankless water heater can be a great choice for any home.
Another popular use of tankless water heaters is for areas of a home that are located too far from your home’s main hot water heater. For instance, if you have a hot tub or a bathroom with outdoor access, a tankless hot water heater can be a great addition to your regular storage water heater.
What Does the Installation Process Look Like?
Installing a tankless water heater is quick and easy — as long as you enlist the best water heater repair Las Vegas has to offer. Because tankless water heaters are smaller than traditional units, these can fit easily into tight spaces, and won’t require any renovations to your home’s storage closet or utility room.
Maintaining Your Water Heater
Whether you’re dreaming of upgrading to a tankless hot water heater or have a traditional unit in need of some help, the best water heater repair Las Vegas has to offer is here to help. Our experts can help get to the root of your home’s hot water heater woes or help you choose the right new hot water heater for your home. We also offer emergency repair services to help you get your hot water back fast when something goes wrong.
Give us a call today to get a free quote and answers to all of your hot water heater questions!
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