Tank Versus Tankless Hot Water Heaters

One of the first things to consider is whether you should get a tank or tankless water heater.

Tank versus tankless hot water heaters.

Instead they heat water as it passes through the unit using a heat exchanger to rapidly bring it. For a tank based traditional hot water system the lifespan is usually 10 years. Although they require fewer btu h to operate storage tank water heaters generally have higher operating costs because they heat and reheat water to a preset temperature regardless of a home s hot water demand. You re not limited to the capacity of a holding tank.

Tankless water heaters are more compact and can heat up water as you use it. With regular maintenance and repairs a tankless system may last up to 30 years or up to 3 times longer than a traditional hot water heater. Water heaters with tanks. And s torage tank water heaters while less expensive up front don t last as long as tankless options.

The operational life of a tankless water heater is usually 20 years if not more. Homeowners with on demand tankless water heaters that use less than 41 gallons or less of hot water each day enjoy between 24 and 34 percent more energy efficiency than storage tank water heaters. The doe notes that storage tank water heaters typically last 10 to 15 years while most tankless units have a life expectancy of 20 years or more. As their name implies tankless or on demand water heaters don t store water in a tank.