Are you curious about the lifespan of tankless water heaters? Picture this: you’re investing in a new water heater and understand that longevity is a critical concern for your household. Efficient and modern, tankless water heaters can be a long-lasting option, but of course, you’d like to know more specifics. This article presents detailed information on the lifespan of a tankless water heater, giving you the much-needed information to ensure sustainable living. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Understanding Tankless Water Heaters
Before we delve into the lifespan of tankless water heaters, it’s vital to grasp what these devices are and how they operate.
What is a tankless water heater?
A tankless water heater, also known as an on-demand or instant water heater, is a device that heats water directly without storing any water inside it. Unlike traditional tank-style water heaters, which constantly keep a quantity of heated water, a tankless water heater only heats water when you need it. This significantly reduces energy waste, making them a more energy-efficient and thus, more environmentally friendly option.
How does a tankless water heater work?
You might wonder how a tankless water heater can instantly provide hot water without storing it. Once you turn on a hot water faucet, cold water travels through a pipe into the device, where a gas burner or electric heating element heats the water directly. In result, a tankless water heater delivers a constant supply of hot water without the need to wait for a storage tank to fill up.
Types of tankless water heaters
Broadly speaking, there are two types of tankless water heaters: gas-fired and electric. Electric tankless water heaters use an electric resistance coil to heat the water, making them simpler to install but less powerful than their gas counterparts. In contrast, gas-fired tankless water heaters use a gas burner to heat the water and often come with a power vent to vent the exhaust gases out. Your choice will depend on your budget, installation space, and hot water needs.
The Expected Lifespan of a Tankless Water Heater
Having understood their workings, it’s relevant to evaluate how long tankless water heaters can last.
Factors influencing lifespan
Durability of a tankless water heater varies based on multiple factors such as installation, usage frequency, maintenance, and quality of the incoming water. Typically, if well-maintained, a tankless water heater can last for 20 years or more, which is almost double the lifespan of traditional water heaters.
Comparing traditional and tankless water heater lifespan
Most traditional tank-style water heaters last around 10 to 12 years under ideal conditions. In contrast, tankless water heaters can last up to 20 years or more if regularly serviced and well-maintained.
Reasons for longer lifespan
The longer lifespan of tankless water heaters can be attributed to a few reasons. Firstly, they reduce the risk of rusting as they don’t hold water within them like traditional tank-style heaters. Secondly, they suffer less wear and tear because they only work when hot water is needed.
Maintenance and Its Impact on Lifespan
How and how often a tankless water heater is maintained plays a critical role in determining its longevity.
Importance of regular maintenance
Just like any other device, tankless water heaters need periodic maintenance to operate at peak efficiency and maintain their longevity. Regular servicing includes flushing the system to remove mineral buildup and inspecting for any leaks or technical issues.
How maintenance extends lifespan
Taking care of your tankless water heater extends its longevity by ensuring it is free from mineral deposits, rust, and corrosion. Regular maintenance allows for early detection and repair of potential problems, preventing unexpected breakdowns and prolonging its lifespan.
Professional vs. DIY maintenance
While certain aspects of maintenance can be done yourself, such as removing debris from the filter, most tasks, particularly internal cleaning of heat exchangers, should be left to professionals. Improper handling could lead to damage and void the warranty.
Signs of Tankless Water Heater Failure
If your tankless water heater shows the following signs, it might be time to seek professional help or consider replacement.
Unexpected changes in water temperature
If your water isn’t consistently hot or fluctuates in temperature, your tankless water heater might need attention.
Discoloration or unusual taste in water
If you notice discoloured water or an unusual taste, it could be a sign of rusting or mineral buildup inside the heater.
Leaks or unusual sounds
Leaks or unusual sounds like popping or cracking can mean trouble. These signs indicate you should contact a professional immediately.
Replacing a Tankless Water Heater
There comes a point when you may need to replace your tankless water heater, especially if it’s beyond the expected lifespan.
When to consider replacement
If your tankless water heater is frequently breaking down, resulting in unexpected repair costs, or if it’s not as efficient as it used to be, it may make financial sense to replace it.
How to choose a new tankless water heater
In choosing a new tankless water heater, consider factors such as energy efficiency, your hot water needs, the unit’s size, and your budget.
Steps in replacing a tankless water heater
Replacing a tankless water heater involves removing the old unit, preparing the new one for installation, and properly installing the new unit, which should ideally be done by a professional to avoid any damage or safety issues.
Costs Involved in Owning a Tankless Water Heater
Despite their benefits, owning a tankless water heater comes with some costs.
Initial purchase and installation cost
Although tankless water heaters cost more upfront than traditional ones, their longer lifespan and energy savings can offset the initial expenditure over time.
Maintenance and repair costs
While these devices require less frequent repairs due to their features and design, the cost of professional maintenance and occasional repairs should be considered.
Expected savings over lifespan
Given their improved energy efficiency, tankless water heaters can save you up to 20% on your energy bills annually, which adds up over their longer lifespan.
Energy Efficiency of Tankless Water Heaters
One of the main advantages of tankless water heaters is their energy efficiency.
Energy-saving features
Tankless water heaters only heat water when required, avoiding the standby heat losses associated with traditional water heaters, and thus, saving energy.
Comparing energy efficiency of traditional and tankless heaters
As mentioned, tankless water heaters can be 24-34% more energy-efficient than traditional tank-type heaters for homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily.
How energy efficiency impacts lifespan
The less a water heater has to work to heat water, the less wear and tear it experiences, meaning high energy efficiency could contribute to a longer lifespan.
Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters
Before deciding to switch to a tankless water heater, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons.
Benefits of tankless water heaters
Tankless water heaters offer several benefits such as longer lifespan, energy savings, compact design, and endless hot water supply.
Challenges of using tankless heaters
On the downside, they have a higher initial purchase and installation cost. And, if your home has high simultaneous hot water needs, a single unit might not suffice.
Who should consider a tankless water heater
People who value long-term energy savings, small device footprint, and the convenience of continuous hot water should consider a tankless water heater.
Understanding the Warranty of a Tankless Water Heater
The warranty of a tankless water heater plays an important role in its lifespan.
Typical warranty period
Most tankless water heaters come with a manufacturer’s warranty that may last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, which covers component failures due to manufacturing defects.
What does the warranty cover?
The warranty typically covers the heat exchanger and other components. However, it might not cover problems resulting from improper installation, lack of maintenance, or unauthorized modifications.
How warranty impacts the lifespan
Warranties can indirectly impact the lifespan of a tankless water heater. A long warranty period might signal a quality product that is expected to last long. Short warranty periods might suggest otherwise.
Environmental Impact of Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters are not just good for your pocket, but they’re also better for the environment.
Carbon footprint
By being more energy-efficient, tankless water heaters help reduce your carbon footprint, contributing to less greenhouse gas emissions.
Use of natural resources
Tankless water heaters use fuel more efficiently and reduce water waste by providing hot water on demand, contributing to the conservation of natural resources.
Disposal and recycling options
Finally, given their longer lifespan, fewer tankless water heaters need to be disposed of compared to traditional tanks. Some parts can also be recycled, minimizing their impact on landfills. Therefore, tankless water heaters are a fantastic eco-friendly alternative to traditional water heaters.