Tankless Water Heaters vs Standard Water Tank

  • July 20, 2014

TANKLESS WATER HEATERS VERSUS STANDARD WATER TANK

More and more Canadians are becoming energy conscious when it comes to energy usage in the home, and a significant portion of energy goes into heating our domestic water.  Investing in a Tankless Water Heater or upgrading your Standard Water Tank is a great way to save energy costs.

Here’s what the expert Toronto water heater installers at Hoerner Heating & Plumbing have to say on which is better: tankless or tank water heaters.

How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?

Tankless Water Heaters provide hot water on demand when you need it, so you don’t have to waste energy heating unused water.  When you turn on your system, water flows into the heater, where a sensor turns on the heat exchanger. The water then flows through the heating coils, where it is quickly heated to the desired temperature. As soon as the faucet is closed, the sensor automatically shuts down the heating coils, which means you use only as much hot water as you need. This in turn means you will never run out of hot water.

What is the Lifespan for each?

No one wants to be constantly calling the Toronto water heater repairman. We want things that last!

While a typical standard water tank is supposed to last 10 to 13 years, tankless water heaters are estimated to last up to 20 plus years with regular maintenance.  Tankless water heaters have a life span twice as long as traditional systems because the risk of rust and corrosion is significantly lower. 

Many industry pros recommend that tankless models be serviced once a year by a qualified technicians. Calcium buildup can decrease efficiency, restrict water flow, and damage tankless models. This will greatly increase the life of your water heater and can even extend it beyond the manufacturer’s warranty timeframe. Experts suggest installing a water softener if your water hardness is above 11 grains per gallon. Ignoring this advice can shorten your warranty.

Hoerner Heating & Plumbing can maintain and check for all necessary requirements.

What is the size difference?

One of the big advantages of tankless water heaters is the potential space savings. Standard water heaters with 40 to 60 gallon capacity are generally around 60″ tall and 24″ wide. The standard water tank can take premium space in your home, where  a tankless water heater, in comparison, might be the size of a carry on suitcase, perhaps 20″ wide by 28″ tall and just 10″ deep.

Have Hoerner install?

When you’ve decided on buying vs. renting your new water heater, it is recommended that you use a licensed, professional installer to insure proper installation with carbon monoxide, gas and plumbing involved.  Any one of these factors could cause catastrophic damage and/or injury if the unit is not installed properly. Our trained professionals know all of the necessary codes and safety factors to install your tankless or standard water tank.

A brand we recommend is the Navien high efficiency, condensing water heater. It’s one of the best tankless condensing water heater systems and has one of the highest efficiency condensing combination wall hung boiler units available.