Tankless Water Heaters vs. Traditional Standard Tank Water Heaters
Homeowners, now more than ever, are trying to make their homes more energy efficient in every possible way. From better insulation, to specially coated windows, to different materials for siding. Whether you live in a hot or a cold climate, home maintenance is a very important part of protecting your investment. Another way that homeowners are utilizing their resources more efficiently is to upgrade to newer appliances that utilize less electricity or other fuel source.
In the propane industry, one of the most popular modifications we see homeowners wanting to make is from a traditional standard tank style water heater to a tankless model. Not only do they take up less space than traditional models, they conserve water and resources in a different manner.
On Demand Capability – Tankless water heaters heat up water as it is needed. Whenever a faucet is turned to hot, that is when the tankless starts heating the water. This utilizes less propane because you aren’t paying to heat a whole tank of water all the time as in standard tank models. With standard tanks, there is a risk of running out of hot water, then you have to wait for the tank to refill and become heated again. With a tankless unit, they will run hot water continuously.
More Efficient Use of Energy – A tankless unit isn’t switching on and off continuously to heat a large tank of water. It is only used when the faucet calls for water. As long as the faucet is off, the unit isn’t utilizing any energy.
Long Term Investment – Although tankless units are generally more expensive to purchase, they last longer and provide more long-term savings over their life time than a standard tank.
Maintenance – Most tankless units have longer warranties, meaning the company that makes them knows they will last longer. Blue Ridge Propane recommends having them serviced every other year and flushed with a special solvent; and having the filters cleaned. Any sediment buildup can be cleaned from the unit, whereas in a standard tank, the sediment just keeps building up. The older style units only have a life expectancy of 10-12 years. A tankless with proper maintenance can last up to 20 years.
Don’t wait until you start experiencing problems with your current water heater to have Blue Ridge Propane give you an estimate for a replacement or upgrade to a tankless model. We have technicians that can come to your home and recommend the correct size for your particular needs.