Water heaters are one of the vital home appliances. As the technology evolves towards more power-efficient equipment, there is a dispute on whether traditional water heaters or tankless water heaters contribute to better conservation of electricity and savings. Before we go any further, let’s have a look at how both technologies function.
Traditional Water Heaters
A traditional water heater keeps up to 300 litres of water in an insulated tank and is ready to use when needed. It warms the water and then when you turn on the tap, it discharges hot water from the upper compartment into the lower one, where it is mixed with cold water and heated to the temperature you specify. It maintains that water’s temperature until new water is released for use.
“Energy waste from standby loss” is a problem with traditional water heaters. These heaters need the energy to keep the water hot in their tanks at all times since they are always keeping hot water in their tanks (referred to as standby loss). Also, once you’ve used all of the water in the tank, you’ll have to wait a while for the hot water to come back on.
Tankless Water Heaters
This water heater does not contain a storage tank, as the name implies. Because it does not store water, it relies on electricity to heat the water that is brought into it when the hot water tap is turned on and brings it to the desired temperature. Unlike a traditional water heater, which continues to heat the stored water even after the tap is shut off, this process of heating the water occurs only when the hot water tap is opened.
When it comes to energy saving, this makes it unquestionably more efficient than a standard water heater.
How Energy Efficient Tankless Water Heaters Are?
There’s no denying that tankless heaters save you money on electricity. When compared to the usage of traditional water heaters, savings for homes that use roughly 150 litres of hot water per day can vary from 20% to 30%. If your usage is higher, you can save even more money, up to 15%. When a tankless water heater is installed in a household for dishwashing or laundry, the electricity consumption savings can be as high as 50% when compared to traditional water heaters.
Which Has a Better Life Expectancy?
Traditional water heaters are an out-of-date technology that hasn’t seen much advancement in recent years. Other parts are tough to locate and replace. While conventional heaters have a 10-year life expectancy (slightly longer with adequate care and maintenance), they are harder to maintain over time.
Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, have a 20-year average lifespan. They are more technologically advanced, have newer/better parts, and require less maintenance. Apart from the apparent benefit of minimal running costs, this results in a hassle-free experience.
How to Effectively Use a Water Heater for Maximum Savings?
You may save energy (and money on your power bill) by simply lowering the temperature setting on your water heater, whether you have a traditional or tankless water heater.
Water heaters are one of your home’s most demanding electrical equipment. The majority of us set the temperature for them to be 120 degrees. Just lowering the temperature by 10 degrees can result in a 5% increase in energy saving.
Try to answer the following questions before you go out and buy a water heater. This will assist you in narrowing down your options.
- What is my household’s daily water requirement/consumption?
- What characteristics should my water heater have?
- What are the expenses of long-term maintenance for either type of water heating system?
- What kind of warranty and services comes with the available models?
The goal of the day is to reduce excessive energy expenses. As the world pushes toward environmental conservation and cleaner power sources, it is no longer a choice but a need.
J.O. Plumbing can help you make the right decision. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to assist you with your questions and provide you with a quote for your water heater installation.
