Which is Best – Tankless Water Heater or Traditional [Solved]

Last updated on January 14, 2023

Choosing a new water heater will bring you to the key choice – should you go with a tankless or traditional water heater? Here’s the answer.

There are many ways to ensure the availability of hot water in a house: a double-circuit gas boiler, a flowing electric water heater, an indirect storage boiler, a storage gas boiler, a tankless gas water heater, and an electric boiler – tankless vs traditional water heater. The last two devices today are one of the most popular and in demand. In this article, we will try to find out which ones are better – tankless water vs conventional water heaters.

Tank Water Heaters vs Tankless

water heater

Here are definite criteria to compare these two household appliances:

Price

Prices for instantaneous heating appliances and storage boilers are not at the same level.

To buy and install a boiler without a tank will cost you a pretty amount from 2,000 to 4,000 dollars. At the same time, you will spend 500-800 dollars on a good old tank water heater.

Tankless water heater vs. traditional tank in terms of price, the first one loses to the opponent.

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Safety operation

Electricity and gas are a source of increased danger. In the storage boiler, the “thin” place is the electrical wiring, which may not be designed for high power. This can lead to overheating of the wire, melting of the insulation or outlet, and other troubles. A flowing heating appliance, despite the fact that it runs on gas, is less dangerous, since it is planned in the project and must be installed and checked by a specialist. Avoid unnecessary waste and trouble – finding a contractor is what you need. Tankless water heater vs traditional water heater, in this regard, tankless boilers seem safer.

Water comfort

The following basic characteristics can be included in this parameter – the duration of continuous use of hot water, the rate of exit from the hot fluid mixer from the moment it is turned on, and the possibility of a recirculation line.

Unlike a tank boiler, which can only dispense a certain amount of water during continuous use, a flow-through heating device can work as long as needed.

This is its plus. But, in terms of the speed of supplying hot liquid to the mixer, it loses to the traditional water heater, because it needs time to warm up the heat exchanger.

Finding a contractor will facilitate the process. The recycling line with a column, unlike a boiler, is impossible to do. At large distances from the point of fluid consumption to the heat source, this is a big minus.

The tankless water heater or traditional – the latter seems more reliable and familiar.

Dimensions and design

According to this parameter, the instantaneous boiler is more convenient than an electric boiler. It is hung on the wall and takes up a minimum of space.

Placing a heating appliance can be a big enough problem in a limited space. In addition, it is much heavier, so under it, you need high-quality fasteners and a solid base.

To be sure there won’t be any problems with the installation of tankless or regular water heater – the best way out is finding a contractor.

Cost-effectiveness

Constant cycles of fluid heating to maintain a full tank of hot liquid cannot but affect your utility bills. In this regard, tankless or regular water heater, a flow-through boiler wins.

Another important advantage of the instantaneous gas/electric heating device is that it does not consume electricity/gas during periods of inactivity. A flow boiler needs to be switched on periodically to maintain temperature.

Comfort of use

Using a tank boiler is more comfortable than a tankless heating device.

Firstly, it is possible to make the most minimal pressure with it, since its operation does not depend on the fluid flow.

Secondly, when an additional water consumer is turned on, a sharply hot liquid will not flow from the mixer. In flowing boilers, this drawback is present.

Do not complicate your life where it is not required – finding a contractor, make things easier.

Service

Both devices require annual cleaning and inspection. If necessary, the heat exchanger of the flow-through heating device must be descaled, in the electric storage boiler, the tank should be cleaned of sediment and the magnesium anode should be changed.

For this job, you won’t have a better option than finding a contractor.

The Takeaway

You can not definitely give preference to any of the devices. It all depends on the user’s preferences.

For those who need more comfort, it is better to buy a storage electric boiler. For whom cost-effectiveness is more important or the space for the installation of the device is limited – it is better to take a flowing fluid heating device.

Tankless water heater vs traditional tank – only a particular consumer can decide.

Confide the installation of the heating devices to the professionals and save your precious time, consider finding a contractor.

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