There are two main types of water heater, the tankless and the tank. When you purchase your home you may not have a choice regarding what is already installed. This is especially true if you purchase an older home; hot water heaters with tanks were generally seen as the only option in these houses.
If you’re not sure which type of water heater you have, then it’s a good idea to call in the Plumbing Detectives. Not only can they advise you on the system you have they can also help you to decide when it is time to replace it and the best option for you and your household. Of course they can also fit it for you too!
The Difference Between a Tank and Tankless System
The most obvious difference is that the tankless system doesn’t have a tank. This is often referred to as the continuous water heater.
A tank system heats the water in a tank; the tank is available in a huge array of sizes. The water will be heated to a pre-determined temperature and the boiler will switch on and off to keep it at that temperature.
In contrast a tankless will only come on when water is needed and heat the water as it passes through the heater.
Benefits Of Tankless
There are several advantages to the tankless water heater:
The tankless water heater only heats the water you need. This generally makes it a more efficient way to heat water as it only uses energy when needed. The lower your hot water usage the lower your energy bill. In fact modern tankless systems will use approximately 50% less energy than the tank versions.
A tankless system means that you have an unlimited supply of hot water. When you use a tank the tank is heated but, if all the household has a shower there is a risk that the tank will be emptied; you’ll then have to wait several hours for the refilled tank to reheat.
This simply isn’t an issue with a tankless system.
While it is true that a tankless heater is usually more expensive to purchase, the long term costs are less. This is partly due to the energy saved by heating water only when you need it. It is also partly due to the fact that tankless water heaters generally have a longer lifespan than other heating systems; making them a much more effective solution.
Having a water tank encourages sediment to settle in the bottom; rust can also build up. Unfortunately this can contaminate the water supply and sometimes even be drawn into the pipes causing a blockage.
Again this is not an issue with your average tankless system; the water is not left to sit anywhere.
It is worth noting that some places are giving rebates to customers that fit tankless systems; this could make a significant difference to the cost of fitting the heater and make it even more attractive / worthwhile.