We are strong advocates of homeowners switching from the conventional type of water heater—one that stores water in a large tank and maintains a contestant temperature—to one of the newest line of gas-powered tankless water heaters. There are many reasons to make this change, such as the immense energy savings these water heaters provide, the small amount of space they take up, and the convenience they offer of unlimited water.
But the advantage we want to look at today is the extended lifespan of tankless systems.
How long will a tankless water heater last?
Tankless (or “on demand”) water heaters last longer on average than standard storage tank systems. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a tankless water heater can expect to last for more than 20 years. By comparison, a storage tank water heater only last 10 to 15 years. With proper care and maintenance, you can anticipate that your tankless water heater will last twice as long as your older system.
Why do tankless systems last longer?
A number of factors go into the longevity of a tankless system. One of the most important is that a tankless system doesn’t deal with the almost constant expenditure of energy that a storage tank system does: it only needs to work when there’s a demand for hot water, and therefore it does less work. The absence of the stress of water storage also helps keep a tankless water heater working for many years. The system is also easier to repair, as the parts are easily replaceable.
The big question that many homeowners will have is if this long life expectancy will make up for the high initial installation cost of tankless systems. In most cases, it will: doubling the amount of time your water heater works is a big savings, and that’s before considering the energy efficiency of tankless water heater. If you have any concerns, simply call on our water heater professionals, who have years of experience installing and servicing tankless water heaters. We’ve also answered some common questions about tankless systems on an earlier post.
Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. has served Orlando and Central Florida Since 1975.