Storage Vs. Tankless Gas Water Heater – Which Is Best?

By Author: Paul Warren
Total Articles: 11
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There is an ongoing debate as to which water heating system is better: a tankless gas water heater or the standard storage water heater. If you are thinking of installing a water heater in your home but are still unsure as to which of the two you should pick, here are some of basic points to help you make an educated position.
Which is More Reliable?
Storage water heaters, even the ones with the larger capacity tanks, still run out of hot water. This is inconvenient especially if you run out of hot water in the middle of your morning shower, which is when you need it most. Another thing that makes storage heaters unreliable is that only one tap at a time can use the hot water. This becomes a nuisance when you have a large family and several bathrooms but you still need to wait your turn to shower because only one shower at a time can have hot water.
As long as you buy a quality tankless model, like the Noritz tankless water heater, it is guaranteed that you will have an unlimited supply of hot water. Tankless heaters work by rapidly heating the water as it ...
... passes through the pipes and through the system itself. It does not need to store water before it heats it up so you get instant hot water whenever you may need it. And unlike storage water heaters, every one of the taps in the house can use the hot water at the same time if needed; no more waiting in line to use the bathroom.
Which of them is more energy efficient?
Going green is the “in” thing right now, and everyone is encouraged to save energy wherever they can. With conventional storage water heaters, the water in the tank needs to be kept at a certain temperature so that there is hot water on standby, ready for use whenever it is needed. This means that even when the hot water is not being used, energy is used to keep the water hot. This not only uses a lot of energy, it also adds a considerable amount to your energy bill every month.
With tankless water heaters the water is heated only when it is needed. The rest of the time the heater is off, which saves you a lot of energy. Energy efficient appliances like tankless water heaters are not only better for the environment; they also save you a lot of money on your monthly utility bills.
So which one should you pick?
Looking at the comparison, it is clear that a tankless gas water heater is a wise choice. It’s true that a tankless system is more expensive than storage water heaters. However, when you look at the math over time, you will see that because of the tremendous savings on your monthly energy bill, a tankless water heater will actually pay for itself in just a few years. So in every respect it is better to choose the energy-saving tankless water heater.