Energy bills are extremely high these days. It is not unusual to pay hundreds of dollars a month to not only heat a home but heat up water. We take warm showers for granted now, but few things can ruin our day more than when the hot water stops. It is not uncommon for this to happen, especially in households where the water heaters are getting a lot of use.

Losing your hot water doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It means you need to replace your hot water heater and that gives you the chance to install a tankless water heater.

A tankless hot water heater, which typically comes in the gas variety, use high-powered burners to heat water extremely fast as it goes through a heat exchanger. This is actually about 22 percent more efficient than the typical type of hot water heater. That means if you are paying $100 to heat water per month, tankless water heaters will drop that cost down to $78. That means hundreds of dollars saved per year, depending on how much the hot water heater is used in a given year.

It should be noted that the costs are much higher for these than for typical hot water heaters. Most tankless water heaters are going to cost more than a basic water heater. That being said, the extra cost on the tankless hot water heater is offset over the course of its life by the lowered cost to heat the water for showers and doing dishes.

There are two main types of tankless water heaters for you to choose from.

  • The first is the whole-house unit, which is installed in a central part of the house. This is the model that replaces the standard hot water heater. All the water in the home goes through this to heat up the water. This is the most common type of tankless hot water heater installation.
  • The second type is the point-of-use unit, which gives hot water only to one feature. You would typically have one installed in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. These units are very small and are often located right under the sink. For extra efficiency, this is a great option to go with but it can be more expensive.

Benefits of A Tankless Water Heater

There are benefits to having a tankless hot water heater. For one, you get huge savings on your energy bill, as was already mentioned. Another benefit is that your hot water does not run out. Since it is heated as it goes through the system when the water is turned on, you get a consistent amount of hot water for as long as you want it.

Storage space can be at a premium and with a tankless hot water heater, you get extra storage space since there is no large tank taking up room. Lastly, and most importantly, the lifespan is double that of a typical hot water heater.