Get Hot Water Right When You Need It
Have you ever been enjoying a nice, hot shower when suddenly the water turned ice cold? If so, you were probably using a shower that was connected to a storage water heater. While newer model houses sometimes have energy-efficient tankless heaters that provide instantaneous hot water, many older houses still use storage water heaters. At Waldman Plumbing and Heating, we talk to many customers about the differences between these two types of water heaters. If you’re considering switching water heaters or want to upgrade to a tankless heater, it’s important to know what’s involved.
Storage water heaters generally store 20 to 120 gallons of water at a time and consistently heat the water with an electric or gas heaters. Although the tank walls are insulated, storage water heaters still constantly lose heat through their walls. This results in a huge energy loss over time.
When you use a storage water heater to heat a shower, you slowly run out of the hot water supply. The storage water heater does not have the capacity to immediately reheat the water in time for the shower, which is why sometimes if multiple people are trying to access the hot water supply, it runs out.
Pro Tip: On a storage water heater, the first-hour rating explains how many gallons of hot water can be used per hour.
In contrast, tankless water heaters provide constant hot water by heating the water when you need it. This saves energy because you are not needlessly heating water when no one is using it. This also save energy because you do not lose standby heat through the tank walls or lose energy when the water heater isn’t operating.
Tankless water heaters are an energy-efficient alternative to storage water heaters. Although they are more expensive initially, you earn back the money on energy and water bills over time. Additionally, you can always be sure you will have hot water when you need it.
If you’re interested in installing a tankless or storage water heater or need a quality Boxford plumber for water heater repair, call Waldman Plumbing and Heating at (781) 780-3184 today. Our experts can provide you with information on plumbing and heating maintenance, care, and repair.