Tank vs. Tankless Water Heater

01 May Tank vs. Tankless Water Heater

SERVING AREAS OF BRISTOL, JOHNSON CITY, AND KINGSPORT TN

If you’re building a new home, or if that big, cylinder storage tank of hot water in your basement is nearing the end of its life, it’s time to ask yourself which is a better choice for you: another storage-tank hot water heater? Or a tankless heater? Many people are now electing tankless water heaters — also called on-demand water heaters — which conserve energy and take up a fraction of the space that storage-tank heaters require. Our Tri-cities tankless water heater experts at Thompson Electrical Service explains on the blog today the difference between storage-tank hot water heaters and tankless hot water heaters.

How does a storage-tank water heater work?

Storage-tank water heaters are by far the most common type of water heater. The large, cylinder tanks are set to a certain temperature and use natural gas or electricity to heat 30 to 50 gallons of stored water at once. Our water heater pros in Johnson City explain: when someone turns the hot water on in your home for a shower or to wash their hands, clothes, or dishes, the stored hot water flows through a pipe at the top of the tank to the faucet where the hot water was turned on. This begins depleting the stored hot water in the heating tank. Have you ever waited to take a shower after several others only to find that no hot water remains? If so, that’s because all the hot water stored in the tank was used for other purposes. The storage tank has to not only refill with water but heat it before hot water is available again.

How does a tankless water heater work?

While tankless water heaters may be a bit more expensive on the front end than storage-tank hot water heaters, our Kingston water heater professionals say tankless heaters will save you more money in the long run — at least $100 on energy bills every year, research shows. That’s because tankless water heaters, which are a fraction of the size of storage-tank heaters, only turn on when necessary, which is why they are also referred to as “on-demand” water heaters. High-powered burners heat water on demand, delivering it to showers — up to four at once — faucets, washing machines, and dishwashers. Like storage-tank water heaters, tankless water heaters are usually powered by natural gas or electricity, but they are up to 40 percent more efficient than tank units, and they last longer.

TANKLESS WATER HEATER SERVICE IN BRISTOL, JOHNSON CITY, AND KINGSPORT TN

Tankless water heaters are growing in popularity — and for good reason. They take up far less space than storage-tank hot water heaters that hold 30-50 gallons of water at once. Tankless water heaters also use less water in a day than their storage-tank counterparts, they last longer, and they are up to 40 percent more efficient than tank systems. This saves money on water and energy bills over time. To schedule a tankless water heater consultation, call the Tri-cities water heater experts at Thompson Electrical Service, (423) 343-5726, or contact us online today.