Consumers today have a great deal of choices when it comes to replacing a worn out water heater. Options include traditional water heaters, as well as tankless water heaters. While both systems provide hot water, each of the systems does it in a different manner. In addition, they both have features and benefits that will appeal to some, while not appealing to others.
Traditional water heaters heat water using electricity, natural gas and propane. In general they are not as energy efficient as tankless water heaters, because the heating mechanism in a traditional water heater is constantly cycling on and off as it maintains the temperature of the water in the storage tank. Traditional water heaters are available in a variety of sizes, depending upon the hot water needs of the homeowner. One thing to keep in mind when selecting a traditional water heater is to look carefully at the recovery rate, which is the amount of time needed to heat up the cold water in the tank. This in many ways is more important than the capacity of the tank.
Tankless hot water heaters, which are very popular in Europe and Asia, only heat water when it needed. As a result they are generally up to 50% more efficient than traditional hot water heaters. As with traditional water heaters, there are available in many sizes and if properly sized, it is virtually impossible to run out of hot water despite the fact that there is no storage tank! Many consumers like tankless water heaters because of their ability to almost instantly deliver hot water to the faucet when it is turned on. The reason for this is the speed that the water is heated, as well as the fact that the heater or heaters are often located near the faucet.
Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing
