Here’s What You Need to Know About Tankless Water Heaters
We loathe to inform you, but water heaters do not last forever. However, when the time comes to upgrade your traditional storage tank water heater, you may want to consider replacing it with a tankless water heater — rather than resorting back to your tried and true.
Before diving into the benefits of what a tankless water heater can do for your home, here are some of the signs to know that indicate your current water heater is on its last leg:
Signs Your Current Water Heater Needs to be Replaced
Corrosion
We’ll cut to the chase — the minute you spot any signs of corrosion on your water tank or in your H2O; you’ll need to have your water heater replaced right away. Typically with age, the anode rod within the water heater will begin to give way — meaning electrolysis will not occur as it once did to protect the tank.
As a result, you may begin to notice rust or corrosion on the tank’s jacket, as well as hot water that is yellow or a rusty red hue when coming out of your plumbing fixtures.
Leaking
Of course, one of the most notorious signs of a storage tank water heater on its way to retirement is if you notice any leaks coming from the tank. Whether it’s a random pool of water at the base or you see a slight puncture on the side of the tank’s jacket, this should never be overlooked — contact your trusted plumber right away to save the day.
Aging
With proper maintenance and care, a storage tank water heater should last anywhere from 8 to 12 years. However, if your water heater has been neglected over the years (especially if it has not been flushed), that could cause it to near retirement even sooner.
Another thing to consider — if your storage tank water heater constantly needs to be repaired or it isn’t producing hot water fast enough, these could also be telltale signs that you’ll need to consider replacing it sooner rather than later.
Since we’ve discussed the signs of what may indicate that you’ll need to replace your current water heater, let’s look at some of the many benefits that tankless water heaters have to offer homeowners!
The Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
Much Smaller in Size = Saves Space
Unlike storage tank water heaters that take up some room, a tankless water heater is a perfect solution for smaller homes or homeowners who would like to save as much space as possible.
On average, the “starter size” for tankless water heaters is about 28 inches tall and 20 inches wide — but if you happen to go for a bigger tankless water heater, the unit will be about 60 inches tall by 24 inches wide.
And, the best thing about tankless water heaters? They’re mounted to the wall — which means you’ll be saving valuable floor space in your home!
Supplies Hot Water On-Demand
As it’s known, storage tank water heaters are equipped with a heating element that will warm H2O around the clock — that way, it’s always readily available. However, there are two cons to this: one, heating water around the clock consumes a slew of energy, and two, there’s a chance your storage tank will run out of hot water, and you’ll need to wait for it to replenish.
Solution? Have a tankless water heater installed! Unlike its traditional water-heating “cousin,” the tankless unit heats water on-demand — meaning you won’t have to worry about the system using a surplus of energy around the clock, as well as running out of hot H2O when you need it the most.
They Can Outlive Storage-Tank Water Heaters
Although tankless water heaters may cost a tad more upfront than storage tank models, they maintain their value. With annual maintenance and care, a tankless water heater can last up to 20 years longer than a storage tank water heater (which has an average lifespan of 8 to 12 years with annual maintenance).