Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters warm up water on demand rather than ahead of time and storing it in a tank. Chances are that you might not have heard about this option, or are a wee bit familiar with it, so we’ll outline the pros and cons of this type of system for you. 

Albeit, we’re not going to delve into the workings of a tankless device, but we’ll refer you to our article on tankless water heaters for a more detailed overview.  

To learn more, check out our related articles! 

• How to Choose a Water Heater: Important Criteria

• 10 Water Heater Problems and Solutions

Tankless Water Heaters: Pros

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A Near Endless Hot Water Supply

A tankless water heater means getting an opportunity to save energy, given that the water isn’t heated ahead of time, hence it doesn’t require additional energy consumption when it isn’t being used. 

In contrast to the tank water heater, which progressively warms up the water and continues to stabilize the temperature once the water is warm, this model, as its name indicates, warms up the water in real-time. 

Given that a tankless water heater warms up water on demand, conserving hot water isn’t a concern. As such, this becomes the key incentive for people to purchase one for their homes. 

These factors directly affect your bank account and your comfort; it also doesn’t take up as much space as the tank model. It also has a better lifespan than the tank water heater (20-year lifespan compared to 10 or 15 years for the model equipped with a tank).

Additionally, this type of system reduces the risks of bacteria growth, as it doesn’t contain tepid water, which is pretty much a breeding ground for bacteria like legionella. However, don’t worry: Whatever the system, the water stored in your tank is kept at a temperature that’s high enough to kill bacteria. Yet, it’s the main reason why you’re advised against drinking hot water from the tap. 

The tankless water heater is a system that has a lot of benefits, but there are a few reasons why the tank water heater is favoured in Quebec: We’ll go over this statement in more detail when delving into the downsides of the tankless system. 

Note that a plumbing issue might be the cause of a poor hot water supply in your home—before jumpstarting these costly repairs, troubleshoot your plumbing by familiarizing yourself with the 10 most common plumbing issues!

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Tankless Water Heaters: Cons

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Carefully Selecting the Water Heater Model

Tankless water heaters have a few downsides that must be considered to really understand the ins and outs of this type of system prior to purchasing and installing. 

At the beginning of this article, we mentioned an endless supply of hot water, which can be seen as a downside if your goal is to save money when it comes to your energy bills. If the concept of a limited water supply tank no longer poses a problem, it can, on the other hand, incur extra costs if you use too much hot water, since you’re still paying for the electricity or gas used to power the water heater. 

On paper, tankless water heaters account for an endless supply of hot water, which means that the system continuously warms water as long as the water tap isn’t turned off. Furthermore, this equipment will warrant you to alter your outlet or make some changes to allow for the system to be gas-powered, which will also represent another additional cost. 

To assess the real potential of tankless water heaters, one must understand that the system warms up the groundwater from its original temperature, which is supplied through the municipal piping network and then directed to your home. During peak winter periods, the water supplied to your dwelling is near freezing, and heating it immediately requires a lot of power. 

A tank water heater is priced according to its recovery rate (number of water gallons heated per hour) and the size of its tank. On the other hand, for a tankless model, it’s more a matter of simultaneous uses: some can only be used for one function at a time, at the risk of experiencing noticeably varying degrees of hot water. 

A tankless water heater will be more expensive than a model with a tank and, if you wish to make it your main (central) system, you’ll be advised to consider a gas-powered model, as the electricity-powered models aren’t as efficient. 

In Quebec, wintertime ensures that one must consider these facts prior to purchasing a tankless water heater. For the latter, calling in a professional is a must, as they’ll be able to advise you pre-installation and provide customer service as needed. Check out our article about energy-related scams to learn more useful information regarding the importance of dealing with qualified professionals!

Tankless Water Heater: Model-Specific Efficiency

The tankless water heater is a practical and compact system, but make sure you do your research to ensure that you’re purchasing the right unit for your home and your hot water use.

Purchasing and installing a tankless system is more expensive than the model fitted with a tank, but if you wish to have an endless supply of hot water and save energy, it’s worth considering. 

Remember that, just like a number of other home appliances, the tankless water heater has to be able to perform adequately during wintertime! Hence the importance of purchasing a gas-powered tankless water heater should it be used as the central system, and take a moment to consider how much hot water this system can provide.