For many years, the only real option for having hot water at your beck and call was to have a tank water heater installed in your home. In recent decades, however, the rise of the tankless water heater has given people an alternative option. This has led to some confusion over which water heater would best serve a homeowner’s individual needs. The best thing to do, of course, is to consult with a professional before making a decision. In order to make things a bit easier, however, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each water heater type.
Tank Water Heaters
Tank water heaters are the older of the two water heater technologies, but they are still good at what they do. They operate by using a large storage tank to keep a quantity of water heated at all times, day and night. That way, you have hot water available whenever you need it. The advantages of this style of water heater are convenience and output. The disadvantages include energy and space inefficiency. Keeping water heated at all times means that your water heater will be wasting quite a bit of energy when it doesn’t need to. You’ll also need to make sure that you have the space to accommodate the storage tank.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters don’t use storage tanks to keep water heated. They activate only when needed, using a heat exchanger to heat water on the way to its destination. When the demand for water subsides, the tankless water heater turns off. The advantage of using this kind of water heater is that it is much more efficient than tank water heaters. The disadvantages include a slight delay in providing hot water, and that the water heater is more easily overwhelmed if too many people demand hot water at once.
If you need a new water heater, call Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration. We provide water heaters throughout Santa Fe, NM.
