Traditional Water Heaters - Tankless Vs. Traditional Water Heaters

When you first decide to replace your water heater, you will find that
you have multiple options to consider. The two main categories of water
heaters are tank and tankless. Each has its own benefits and
disadvantages, thus you will want to weigh these heavily to determine
what will work best for you.

What you need to know about a tank water heater system


A tank water heater system works by taking in water into an insulated
tank and heating it until the water is used. The tank can hold large
amounts of water and will allow users to utilize whatever is stored in
the tank. However, because the tank space is finite, the tank can run
out of the heated water. When you have a larger family or group of
people, this can happen quite easily.


If the tank water heater system is made out of plastic, stainless
steel, or copper, it will not leak, but if made out of any other
materials, it can cause leaks and lessen the overall efficiency of the
tank. The tank system will also naturally have mineral buildup in the
tank after storing water over the years, which also lessens the
efficiency as well as the amount of water that can be stored.


A typical tank water heater will last anywhere from two to nine years
until it needs to be replaced. It can also take up a large amount of
space in your home and need to be secured in some fashion in the event
of earthquakes and other natural disasters. Some studies have also
shown that the warm water that is held in the tank is more prone to
bacteria and other germ growth.


The tank water heater is quite bulky and can be hard to handle, but
must be elevated away from possible floods and kept far away from fumes
that may be dangerous.


A question of price?


Knowing this, the first question you may ask is why people still have
the tank system installed in their home. But the answer is complicated.
Some homeowners are not willing to spend a little extra money for a
tankless system that can end up paying for itself in a few short years.
The expense is worth it due to the benefits that the tankless system
can provide – not to mention the lower energy bills.


But many homes still have tank water heaters installed; so many
homeowners may never even give them another thought.


But a tankless system offers homeowners a way to heat their water without having the
think about every drop that they use. However, there are specific benefits to
having a tankless water heater that you will want to consider:


• Increased energy efficiency
• Longer life span
• Greater safety
• Ease of portability
• Healthy
• Guaranteed hot showers


A tankless water heater system
allows families and couples the ability to have hot water when they
need it – not when the tank is full enough.


Author profile: "The author, Helaku Dyami, is a market analyst with
http://www.dotankless.com.
He is a specialist regarding tankless
water heaters and their comparison with regular storage tank heaters, and writes extensively on the advantages of tankless hot water heaters."