Signs You Need a Tankless Water Heater Upgrade
Is your water heater 10 years old or older? And is it malfunctioning?
Maybe you’re dealing with cold showers, discolored water, basement leaks, or other heater-related headaches.
Well, imagine if you had a brand new heater — one that offered continuous hot water, improved energy efficiency, and a longer lifespan. Maybe that sounds too good to be true. But it’s all possible with a tankless water heater.
Understanding the Differences Between Tank and Tankless Water Heaters
How do tank water heaters work, anyway? And how do they differ from their tankless counterparts?
Whichever type of heater you have, water from your home’s main water line will flow into it. What varies is how that water is warmed.
How Traditional Water Heaters Work
With a traditional water heater, the cold water flows into an insulated tank. And such a machine can hold approximately 20 to 80 gallons at any one time.
Beneath this tank, an electric heating element or a gas burner will keep the water supply at a set temperature at all times.
How Tankless Water Heaters Work
With a tankless heater, when someone turns on a faucet or shower, cold water enters the machine via an inlet pipe. That water then flows through the heat exchanger.
A heat exchanger consists of several pipes that an electric heating element or gas burner heats. Special sensors control the rate of heating to allow for precise temperature control.
Once the water’s warmed, it exits the heater and heads toward the faucet or shower head that’s in use.
Key Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
Perhaps you’ve never owned a tankless water heater before. Maybe you’ve never even seen one! In that case, you might be surprised by this device’s powerful benefits:
Handling Increases in Water Usage
A tankless heater warms water as needed. If there’s a spike in a home’s hot water usage — if multiple people take showers and run sinks at the same time, for example — such a heater could easily handle that extra demand.
By contrast, with a tank water heater, you could quickly run out of stored hot water. Then you’d have to wait for more water to enter the tank and get heated. That process could take at least 30 minutes — perhaps an hour.
Energy Conservation
Tankless heaters don’t warm water when no one’s using warm water. Thus, no energy is wasted, and you could save money on your utility bills.
For its part, a traditional heater keeps water hot all day, every day. And that can be quite wasteful indeed.
Compact Design
A remarkable aspect of tankless water heaters is just how small they are — about the size of a suitcase. You could actually mount one on a wall!
As such, tankless heaters can fit inside crawl spaces and closets. That way, you’d gain extra room in your basement or wherever your current tank heater is located.
Longer Lifespan
If properly installed and maintained, a tankless heater could last 15 or 20 years, if not longer. A traditional water heater, meanwhile, will typically expire in an 8- to 12-year range.
Note that outdoor tankless water heaters are available as well. With weather-resistant covers, these units can also last 15 to 20 years.
Tankless heaters endure longer because they’re not heating water constantly. Plus, they’re usually made out of rust-resistant materials.
Moreover, because they don’t have standing water inside them, tankless heaters won’t corrode nearly as much as tank heaters.
Why Aging Systems Become Less Efficient
When a tank water heater is 10 or 15 years old, it simply won’t work as well as it once did. Wear and tear, corrosion, and sediment buildup will obstruct its functioning.
Here are several signs it’s time to replace your tank heater:
- You frequently run out of hot water.
- Your tap water is rusty.
- Your water tastes metallic.
- You’re frequently calling plumbers to repair your heater.
- Your water heater’s making rumbling or popping sounds.
- This machine is leaking.
Professional Tankless Water Heater Installation
For professionals, it’s relatively simple to install both outdoor and indoor tankless water heater units.
Evaluating Your Home’s Plumbing System
While evaluating your plumbing, your plumber could find the best place to mount your new heater. Indoor tankless water heaters should be close to a plumbing line. And gas tankless water heaters should also be near venting and a gas line.
Proper Sizing
Your plumber would also figure out your home’s ideal tankless heater size. That calculation would be based on how many water fixtures you have, the flow rates of those fixtures, and your temperature rise, among other factors.
Your temperature rise, by the way, is the difference between the temperature of your cold water and your preferred hot water temperature.
The Installation
When it’s time to install the new heater, your plumber would comply with all applicable building codes and home insurance regulations.
Once the machine’s installed, the technician would thoroughly test this new unit, ensuring that it works correctly and there are no leaks. Finally, this expert would fully clean up the site before leaving.
Exceptional Tankless Water Heater Installations in Melbourne, FL
If gas or electric tankless water heaters sound appealing, you could consult a professional plumber. And, if you live in or near Melbourne, FL, you could always contact Melbourne Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.
Our experts would be happy to provide you with a tankless heater evaluation and installation. We can also upgrade tankless water heaters that are aging.
As with all of our work, when we install tankless water heater units, we’re consummate professionals: meticulous, respectful, and punctual. As we’re proud to say, if there’s any delay, it’s YOU we pay.
So please call us whenever you can. Soon, you could be basking in high-quality hot water all the time. Not to mention, you’d be utilizing less energy, lowering your monthly expenses, and helping the environment. Yes, it’s amazing to think what a tankless water heater upgrade can do for a home.
FAQ’s – Tankless Water Heater Upgrades
How do I know if I need to upgrade my tankless water heater?
Common signs include inconsistent hot water, reduced water pressure, rising energy bills, and frequent system errors or repairs.
How long do tankless water heaters last?
Most tankless water heaters last 15 to 20 years, which is longer than traditional tank-style water heaters.
What are the warning signs of a failing tankless water heater?
Warning signs include fluctuating water temperatures, mineral buildup, unusual noises, or the system shutting off unexpectedly.
Is it worth upgrading to a newer tankless water heater?
Yes. Newer models often offer improved energy efficiency, better performance, and advanced features that help reduce energy costs.
Why does my tankless water heater run out of hot water?
If demand exceeds the unit’s capacity, the system may struggle to keep up. An upgrade to a higher-capacity unit may solve the issue.
Can mineral buildup damage a tankless water heater?
Yes. Hard water can cause scale buildup inside the heat exchanger, which can reduce efficiency and damage the system over time.
How often should a tankless water heater be serviced?
Most manufacturers recommend annual maintenance, including flushing the system to remove mineral deposits.
Can an old tankless water heater increase energy bills?
Yes. As systems age or develop scale buildup, they may lose efficiency and use more energy to heat water.
Should I replace my tankless water heater if it needs frequent repairs?
If repairs become frequent or costly, replacing the system may be more cost-effective than continuing to repair an aging unit.
Can a tankless water heater be upgraded to a larger unit?
Yes. A plumber can install a higher-capacity tankless system or multiple units to meet increased hot water demand.
What improvements do newer tankless water heaters offer?
Modern systems often include improved energy efficiency, smart controls, better safety features, and higher flow rates.
Who should I call to inspect or upgrade my tankless water heater?
A licensed plumber can inspect your system, diagnose issues, and recommend whether repair or replacement is the best option.