Has the time come to replace the water heater in your Stroudsburg, PA home? If you have had your water heater for some time, you may be surprised to see all the available options. One big decision you’ll have to make is whether you’ll purchase a traditional water heater or a tankless water heater. Here are some factors you may wish to consider.

What Is a Tankless Water Heater?

Tankless water heaters are also called on-demand water heaters. They use high-powered burners to quickly heat water as it travels through the heat exchanger, and they then deliver it straight to your faucet without storing the hot water in a tank. Tankless water heaters are typically powered by gas or electricity and can be significantly more energy efficient than traditional tank models.

What Are Traditional Water Heaters?

Traditional water heaters found in most homes have an insulated tank that holds up to 50 gallons of water and a heat source to warm that water. A pipe protruding from the top of the tank delivers heated water to the sinks in your kitchen, bathroom and other areas.

Traditional tanks use electricity or natural gas to heat the water. They also have pressure release and temperature valves that open when the temperature or pressure exceed safe levels.

Tankless Water Heater Advantages and Disadvantages

If your home uses less than 41 gallons of hot water every day, tankless water heaters can be between 24% and 34% more energy-efficient than traditional water heaters. If your home’s water use is up to 86 gallons per day, you may see energy savings of between 8% to 14%. Installing on-demand water heaters at each hot water outlet may increase your savings.

Tankless water heaters are more expensive than conventional units. However, they lower operating costs and last longer. You should expect your tankless unit to last for at least 20 years. Since the parts are easy to replace, you could extend that life expectancy by several more years. Traditional water heaters last about 10 to 15 years.

A tankless unit doesn’t require as much space as a traditional water heater. One can be installed in tight quarters or on outside walls if space is an issue. You don’t have to wait for the water in a tank to heat up or worry that you are going to run out of hot water. Most units can deliver between two and three gallons of hot water per minute.

However, if you take a shower and do your laundry simultaneously, your tankless heater could fail to keep up with the hot water demand. If two people are showering in your home simultaneously, one person may endure a chilly experience.

The Pros and Cons of Traditional Water Heaters

Traditional water heaters are significantly less expensive, they are easier to operate and they require less maintenance and repairs. When repairs are needed, they are usually inexpensive and quick to perform. Tankless water heaters are more complicated, making them more expensive to repair or replace.

Storage tank water heaters are more expensive to operate, require more energy to run during the cold winter months, occupy more space than on-demand units and cannot be stored outside your home. Additionally, the last person to shower in the morning only has a limited supply of hot water.

Should You Choose Tankless or Traditional?

If you can afford the initial cost of purchasing a tankless water heater, you will save money over time. However, if you are on a fixed income, a storage tank heater may be your best option. We recommend that you talk our water heater professionals at R.J. Groner Inc. to determine which option is right for you.

Don’t wait until there is an emergency to consider your water heater options. If you see that your storage tank water heater is coming to the end of its life, start investigating more about tankless water heaters now.

Expertise You Can Rely On

At R.J. Groner Inc., we have been offering high-quality plumbing services to customers throughout Stroudsburg for more than five decades. Besides water heaters, that includes drain cleaning, water filtration systems, boilers, sump pumps and pipe repair. We also perform a complete range of indoor air quality, heating and cooling installation, maintenance and repair. Our team can handle your ductwork as well. We are a member of the ACCA, certified by the EPA and accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. Call us today and see for yourself why so many people trust R.J. Groner Inc. for their plumbing, heating, and air conditioning needs.

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