• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Travel Policy
  • Testimonials
  • Careers
858.587.2874
Ivey Engineering
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Travel Policy
    • Testimonials
    • Careers
    • Scholarship Contest
  • Expertise
    • Overview
    • HVAC
    • Plumbing
    • Fire Suppression
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Carbon Monoxide
    • Building Codes
    • Design
    • Construction
    • Facility Condition Assessment
  • Services
    • Overview
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Defects
    • Estimating & Cost Analysis
    • Building System Evaluation
    • Forensic Investigation & Failure Analysis
    • HVAC & Plumbing Design
    • Indoor Cultivation Facility Design
    • Professional Liability
    • Product Testing
  • Our Team
    • Conrad Gonzalez
    • Kevin Hastings, P.E.
    • Nancy Ivey
    • William Ivey, P.E.
    • Jorie Obias-Yambao
    • Joseph Palanca, P.E.
    • Rush Porter
    • Gloria Rodriguez
    • Nova Sevilla
    • David Shreve, P.E.
    • Felix Touza, P.E.
    • Gregory Weintraub
    • Lisa Zollinger
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Ask an Expert
    • Request Fee Schedule
    • Request Resume
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Menu Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Travel Policy
    • Testimonials
    • Careers
    • Scholarship Contest
  • Expertise
    • Overview
    • HVAC
    • Plumbing
    • Fire Suppression
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Carbon Monoxide
    • Building Codes
    • Design
    • Construction
    • Facility Condition Assessment
  • Services
    • Overview
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Defects
    • Estimating & Cost Analysis
    • Building System Evaluation
    • Forensic Investigation & Failure Analysis
    • HVAC & Plumbing Design
    • Indoor Cultivation Facility Design
    • Professional Liability
    • Product Testing
  • Our Team
    • Conrad Gonzalez
    • Kevin Hastings, P.E.
    • Nancy Ivey
    • William Ivey, P.E.
    • Jorie Obias-Yambao
    • Joseph Palanca, P.E.
    • Rush Porter
    • Gloria Rodriguez
    • Nova Sevilla
    • David Shreve, P.E.
    • Felix Touza, P.E.
    • Gregory Weintraub
    • Lisa Zollinger
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Ask an Expert
    • Request Fee Schedule
    • Request Resume
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
You are here: Home1 / Plumbing2 / Tankless (On Demand) Water Heaters: 4 Pros and 4 Cons
a person's fingers touching control panel of tankless water heater

Tankless (On Demand) Water Heaters: 4 Pros and 4 Cons

in Plumbing/by Bill Ivey

In 2018 alone, just over 8.7 million residential water heaters were shipped into the United States, which amounts to roughly one water heater for every 37 people. This high demand is not surprising, as everybody needs heated water for numerous tasks, such as taking showers and washing dishes.

One of the most popular types of water heaters is a tankless (also called on-demand) water heater, which heats water on an as-needed basis. However, when considering the purchase of a tankless water heater, it’s important to first analyze its positive and negative aspects. Fortunately, we’ve done some of the homework for you. Read on for our list of the 4 Pros and 4 Cons of Tankless Water Heaters.

Pro #1: Longer life expectancy

Tankless water heaters are becoming more popular, and the benefits they provide may be the reason why. One of the most tangible benefits of a tankless water heater is its longevity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of about 20 years, which is nearly double that of traditional tank water heaters, which only last 10  to 15 years.

white tankless water heater attached to a wall

 

Pro #2 More energy efficient

Aside from their high life expectancy, tankless water heaters are also much more energy efficient than traditional water heaters, as they use roughly 30 to 50 percent less energy than their counterparts. Tank-based water heaters, for example, store preheated water for when it is needed,  and continue to reheat the water throughout the day, resulting in higher energy use. Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, use a heating element or burner to heat the water on demand as it passes through the unit.

As a result, tankless water heaters are capable of supplying a nearly endless supply of hot water, while saving households over $100 a year on average on their utility bill. When considering their 20-year lifespan, this amounts to a savings of roughly $2,000 over this time period.

Replacing a traditional water heater with an on-demand unit is only one of several ways to make a home or business more energy efficient.

Pro # 3: Never run out of hot water

Tankless water heaters don’t depend on storage, and if they’re sized and installed properly, you can take as many showers as you want back to back without running out of hot water. They have a powerful heating element or burner that heats the cold water on demand as the water passes through the heater.

A chrome shower head with water coming out of it

Pro #4: Save space

Tankless water heats are much smaller than other water heaters, which save space. Traditional tank water heaters, for example, can be upwards of 6 feet tall, while tankless water heaters are only 2 to 3 feet tall and are usually mounted on a wall. In smaller homes, this extra space could be a welcome benefit.

The pros above may have already convinced you that a tankless water heater is the route to go. Despite the many positive features of tankless water heaters, they’re not without their disadvantages. Before making that final decision, it would be wise to also look at the cons.

Con # 1: Initial cost is more than most traditional water heaters.

Although tankless water heaters provide households with numerous benefits, drawbacks such as initial cost make buyers hesitant to purchase one. Including the installation price, most tankless water heaters cost between $1,000 to $3,000. This is considerably more than the $700 to $2,000 price for most tank-based water heaters.

several 100 dollar bills

Con #2: Installation is more complex.

Tankless water heaters require more gas or electric power than tank type water heaters. They save energy by operating only when there is demand for hot water. This results in larger gas pipes and larger electric circuits. For a new building design, this may not be a problem. However, for an existing building with established gas pipes and electrical circuits, infrastructure renovations are sometimes needed  to accommodate the additional power requirements.

Con #3: Needs to be sized properly according to household needs.

To have enough hot water to run the dishwasher, for example, while taking a shower or even multiple people taking a shower at once, the tankless unit must be sized properly. A plumbing expert will figure out the flow rate and temperature rise to determine the proper size and design based on your needs.

Con #4: Won’t supply hot water during power outages.

Buyers need to be aware that tankless water heaters don’t provide hot water during power outages. Because tankless water heaters require power to operate and don’t store any heated water, if the electricity goes out, so does the supply of hot water.

Buyers in states such as Texas, Louisiana and California should keep this factor in mind, as according to Stacker.com, Texas and Louisiana experienced the most and second most power outages in 2021, at 66 and 19 power outages, respectively. California came in third with 15 power outages in 2021.

an electrical tower with the sun behind it

Is a tankless water heater worth it?

Every household needs heated water, and tankless water heaters are one of the most popular types of water heaters available to consumers. This is due to their 20-year life expectancy, energy efficiency, endless hot water supply and compact size. However, buyers must also be aware that tankless water heaters are much more expensive than other water heaters, are more challenging to install, need to be sized properly and do not operate during power outages.

Every homeowner’s situation and intentions are different. While your main intent may be to see a return on your investment, another’s may be to save the planet with less energy usage or simply to enjoy an endless supply of hot water.

We hope this list of the pros and cons of tankless water heaters is useful, especially if you’re looking to purchase a new water heater. If we left out any pros or cons, let us know in the comments section below. And, if you’re ever in need of any plumbing expert witness services, keep Ivey Engineering in mind.

 

Tags: energy consumption, energy efficiency, featured, home, plumbing
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
You might also like
Bottom of water heater showing a leak 5 Plumbing Repairs You Should Leave to a Professional
blue natural gas flames coming from furnace 8 Facts You Should Know to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
man serving as expert witness in a courtroom Top 4 Expert Witness Traits to Consider
A Few Good Men Top 10 Glaring Movie Courtroom Mistakes
Two men discussing a building project at the site 6 Tips to Hiring a Building Contractor for a Commercial Project
a judge holding a gavel 8 Hilarious But True Court Cases You Won’t Believe
1 reply
  1. ghulam akber
    ghulam akber says:
    March 28, 2022 at 10:40 am

    Hi-
    This is a great post on the Pros And Cons Of Tankless Water Heaters and I appreciate your efforts in writing such a detailed article. Your post covers every aspect or essential information of the Tankless Water heater’s Pros And Cons. I also write an article on How to Choose Tankless Water Heaters Brands  on my website smartinfoclub.com

Comments are closed.

CONNECT on LinkedIn
FOLLOW on Twitter
CONNECT on Facebook

Recent Blog Posts

  • old copper gas boiler6 Most Common Causes of Carbon Monoxide PoisoningDecember 21, 2021 - 3:49 pm
  • Bottom of water heater showing a leak5 Plumbing Repairs You Should Leave to a ProfessionalAugust 13, 2021 - 4:52 pm
  • Two men discussing a building project at the site6 Tips to Hiring a Building Contractor for a Commercial ProjectJanuary 11, 2021 - 4:40 pm
  • white air conditioning vent in an office building7 Ways to Reduce Cooling Costs in Commercial BuildingsOctober 23, 2020 - 2:19 pm

Categories

  • Community
  • Construction
  • Courtroom
  • Electrical
  • Fire & Life Safety
  • HVAC
  • Plumbing
  • Sustainable Living

Archives

Tags

architecture bathroom buildings claim class action comedy court case courtroom drama energy consumption energy efficiency environmentally friendly expert witness featured fire & life safety fire protection hilarious history home house HVAC lawsuit marvels massive irrigation system master bathroom medical imaging mistakes modern modern plumbing systems movies plastic pipe plumbing plumbing code plumbing commercials plumbing fixtures plumbing systems rainwater harvesting remodel project renewable sources renovation settlement solar panels sustainability trial verdict

About Us

Ivey Engineering, based in San Diego, California, has performed expert witness and forensic consulting services since 1994. IEI serves clients in over 30 states. Our staff is comprised of engineers, former construction executives and service and repair professionals who are licensed in various states.

Get in Touch

Phone: 858.587.2874

Fax: 858.587.6749

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: 8330 Juniper Creek Lane

San Diego, CA 92126

From Our Blog

  • old copper gas boiler6 Most Common Causes of Carbon Monoxide PoisoningDecember 21, 2021 - 3:49 pm
  • Bottom of water heater showing a leak5 Plumbing Repairs You Should Leave to a ProfessionalAugust 13, 2021 - 4:52 pm
  • Fire sprinkler with water4 Most Common Fire Sprinkler Systems: Pros and ConsApril 20, 2021 - 3:29 pm
© Copyright 2022 - Ivey Engineering Inc.
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Expertise
  • Services
  • Our Team
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
5 Ways to Reduce Allergens in the Homeman suffering from allergies and wiping nosewhite air conditioning vent in an office building7 Ways to Reduce Cooling Costs in Commercial Buildings
Scroll to top