If your old tank-type water heater is getting past its’ sell-by date and you need to replace it, you may want to consider a tankless water heater. These have come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years and have many benefits over tank-type water heaters.
To begin with, you can save as much as 50% over the cost of a conventional water heater and you can never run out of hot water. We can install a whole-house tankless water heater or a point-of-use tankless water heater as needed. These can run on propane, natural gas, or electricity. This is great for anyone in Wichita or environs, as we have both cold winters and hot summers – all increasing our energy costs.
No Stand-By Heat Loss from Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless heaters have no standby heat loss. A tank-type heater heats the water and then keeps it until you need it, so it is losing heat – even though the tank may be lagged. A tankless water heater only switches on and heats water as and when you need it, so you are only paying to heat the water you need at that moment.
A tankless water heater is also a boon if you have a large family or you have visitors and everyone wants to take a shower one after another. It will just keep heating the water for as long as required.
Space-Saving Advantages from Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless heaters are smaller than conventional heaters because they have no need to store any water. They can be hung on a wall giving you more floor space, smaller units can be installed under a cabinet, and they can even be installed outside using an anti-freeze kit.
An electric tankless water heater is even more green because it emits no greenhouse gases and there is also no chance of enduring a flood because of a leaking tank.
There is a couple of things to take into consideration. If you use natural gas or propane units they will need venting which means installing the vent. You may also need to upgrade your gas or electricity line. Furthermore, although you can take a shower all day if you wish, there may be problems if someone else is using another faucet at the same time, for instance doing the washing up in the kitchen.
Longer Life
Another benefit of a tankless water heater is that it will last longer than a tank-type water heater. Typically, tankless will last for 20 – 30 years, whereas a storage-type heater will probably need replacing again after ten years or so.
You need to consider how you use hot water in your home to assess the benefits to you of going tankless. At Ben Franklin Plumbing of Wichita, we will be happy to visit you at a convenient time in order to discuss the pros and cons as they apply to your home. We service not only Wichita but surrounding cities such as Derby, Andover, and even Goddard, Kansas. Anywhere near Wichita, and we can service you!