Pros vs. cons of owning a tankless water heater

What are the positives and negatives of owning a tankless water heater? Mitchell Kuffa, a licensed builder and home inspector, wrote on The Times Herald’s website that these heaters can save energy, but noted that the cost of sustainability is often more than that of a conventional gas-fired tank.

The big issue is that they serve hot water to one faucet at a time. So one can get a cold shower if multiple hot water faucets are activated at the same time.

Overall, the tankless water heaters user consumes about 30-50 percent less energy than a conventional tank, saving an average family around $75 to $125 a year. These units only heat the water when you demand it. It eliminates the cost of keeping 30 to 50 gallons of water hot in a storage tank. They can supply a continuous stream of hot water. This is perfect for a hot tub or Whirlpool. The larger units can supply a whole family, but they are even more expensive than a smaller unit, which are more expensive than a traditional water heater.

What do you think about tankless water heater systems? Which situations are good for these versus gas-fired water heaters? Let us know; we’d love to hear your thoughts.