Is Your Water Heater Doing Its Best?
Written on: December 2, 2024
Why It Might Be Time to Replace Your Water Heater
Have you noticed that your energy bills seem higher? And at the same time, maybe you’re finding that the water isn’t getting as hot as you like in the shower? If you have a traditional tank-style water heater that’s hitting the ten-year mark, those are two big signs that your water heater is reaching the end of its lifespan.
The fact is, when it comes to heating water, performance and efficiency count for a lot. Between bathing and showering, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning and other tasks, the typical American household uses between 60 and 65 gallons of hot water a day. That means it makes sense to look for peak efficiency when it comes to heating water.
Any new water heater will be more efficient than older technology, but for super efficiency and savings, you should also weigh your options and consider going tankless.
What Is a Tankless Water Heater?
With a traditional tank-type water heater, you are paying to keep a large amount of water hot all the time—even when you’re away for vacation. Tankless propane water heaters, which are also known as demand water heaters, use an electric pilot and a hot propane flame to heat water immediately when you turn the tap. That translates to virtually unlimited hot water, and lower fuel bills. You can opt for whole-house models, or smaller versions that can be installed where they are needed to generate hot water—a great solution for an addition or guest house.
The Benefits of Tankless Water Heating
- Unlimited hot water: Traditional tank heaters can run out of hot water if you use a lot at once. Tankless water heaters produce hot water instantly on demand. There’s no tank, so it can’t hit empty.
- Savings: Tankless water heaters save energy by rapidly heating water when you need it, rather than keeping a large tank hot all the time. All that efficiency helps you save money by lowering your energy costs by as much as 40%.
- Flexibility: With no storage tank, a tankless water heater is small – even units designed to serve a whole house take considerably less room than a 55-gallon tank! Most are about the size of a suitcase. Units can also be wall-mounted, which means a tankless water heater can be placed just about anywhere in the house, including closets and crawl spaces.
- Longer equipment life: The primary culprit in the limited lifespan of a conventional water heater is the corrosive water stored in its tank. Because a tankless water heater doesn’t store water, it can last 18 to 20 years.
Although some people find tankless water heaters more expensive to buy and install, they are a great investment and they save you money in the long run. And if your home has a basement, space may not be an issue. But if you don’t have a basement, that big tank uses a lot of valuable real estate in your home. Imagine what you could do with that closet space…
Ready to Learn More?
The pros at Pico Propane can help you choose the best option for your needs, install it correctly—and provide great service and maintenance plans to protect your investment.
Enjoy energy efficiency and all the hot water you need with a new water heater! Contact us today to get started.
