Hi, I’m Kyle Metcalf, the owner of Rocketman Plumbing in Albuquerque. Today, I want to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of tankless water heaters compared to regular tank water heaters.
Costs of Tankless Water Heaters vs. Tank Heaters
If you have a regular tank water heater and are thinking of replacing it with a tankless water heater, you’ll pay a lot more. The cost of a tankless heater can be double what a regular water heater costs. Also, the installation cost of the tankless heater is close to double that of a tank heater.
There’s another cost factor around tankless water heaters you should be aware of. Regular tank heaters typically have a half-inch gas line going into them; for a tankless water heater to pass code, it needs a three-quarter-inch line. That may mean running a whole new line from your gas meter to the new tankless heater.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Tankless vs Tank Heaters
One of the advantages of a tankless water heater is that you never run out of hot water. If you have a house full of people taking shower after shower, and the last person always gets a cold shower, that’s a good reason to go tankless. It can also save you some money on your gas bill. I can’t tell you exactly how much you’ll save, but you’re not keeping 40 or 50 gallons of water hot all the time. The gas turns on to heat the water only when you need it. However, the money you’ll save will never equal the expense of installing that tank.
One way you can save money with a regular tank heater is to turn the gas valve down when you’re going on vacation. It won’t work nearly as much or use as much gas when you’re away.
Unless you regularly run out of hot water, stick with a regular tank heater. But of course, if you opt for a tankless water heater, we’re happy to install it for you. Get in touch at (505) 209-8932 and ask about a free estimate.