How long does a tankless water heater take to pay for itself?

Tankless water heaters can eventually pay for themselves with energy bill savings, but the payback period may be long: 22-27 years for a gas tankless heater, 12-20 years for an electric. Tankless water heaters tend to last longer than storage heaters: 20 to 25 years in many cases.

Is a tankless water heater worth the investment?

According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, a tankless water heater is more efficient and uses less energy than a conventional water heater, providing a $25 to $107 in annual savings. If your hot water use is low (less than 41 gallons per day), a tankless water heater will be 24% to 34% more efficient.

What is the payback on a tankless water heater?

According to a study by Consumer Reports, the payback period for tankless water heaters can range from 12 years to 27.5 years, with electric models on the lower end of the spectrum and gas models on the upper end.

What is the downside of a tankless water heater?

The main disadvantage of tankless water heaters is their upfront cost (unit and installation) is significantly higher than tank-style heaters. Including installation, tankless water heaters cost 3 times more than tank-style water heaters on average.

Are tankless water heaters worth it 2021?

Energy Efficient

The U.S. Department of Energy reports a tankless water heater is 24% to 34% more energy-efficient than storage tank water heaters—as long as you use around 41 gallons per day. However, even if you double that amount, they are still 8% to 14% more efficient.

3 Things They Don’t Tell You About Tankless

How big of a tankless water heater do I need for a family of 5?

In short, a family of 5 would need a 10 GPM gas tankless heater or 27 kW electric tankless heater if you live in the northern part of the USA, where the input water has a lower temperature. The tankless heater has to work extra hard to bring the water temperature up to 110˚F or 120˚F.

How long does it take a tankless water heater to heat up?

Tankless units take about 15 seconds to bring water up to temperature, but you still have to wait for that hot water to arrive at your shower head or faucet, just as you do with a tank-type heater.

Which is cheaper to operate gas or electric tankless water heater?

As a general rule, gas and electric tankless water heaters will cost approximately the same to operate, especially when you factor in the recommended annual maintenance that gas appliances require. This will depend greatly on the differential between natural gas or propane and electricity costs in your area.

How long do tankless water heaters last?

Some people hesitate to decide on a tankless water heater because they can be a slightly higher cost; however, you get significantly more life out of one. A standard water heater tank lasts about 8-12 years. A tankless water heater can last as long as 25 years!

Do tankless water heaters use more electricity than regular water heaters?

The Verdict: Tankless Water Heaters Are More Efficient

How much less energy a tankless water heater will consume depends on how much hot water you use daily. The EPA estimates that a tankless water heater uses up to 34% less energy than a storage tank water heater if you use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily.

What maintenance is needed on a tankless water heater?

The good news is that tankless water heaters don't require much maintenance, either. A tankless system should be serviced as a part of the regular preventive maintenance that heating and cooling systems receive. Electric or gas components should be inspected.

Do gas tankless water heaters work when the power is out?

While on-demand gas water heaters don't rely on electricity as a fuel source to heat water, on-demand heaters usually have a control panel that is powered by electricity which is the 'brains' of the water heater. So even a tankless gas water heater will not work independently in a power outage.

How much does a tankless water heater increase home value?

If you are looking to increase the value of your home, adding a tankless water heater to your features is a great place to start. According to a study conducted by Zillow, homes with tankless water heaters sold for 4% more than their expected value. On average, these homes also sold 43 days faster than expected.

How much does it cost to switch to a tankless water heater?

Gas tankless water heaters cost $700 to $4,600, and electric on-demand water heaters cost $600 to $2,500 with installation. Converting or replacing a tank water heater with a tankless system costs $800 to $3,500 on average. Tankless prices depend on the brand, fuel source, and flow rate.

Are tankless water heaters loud?

Tankless water heaters will all make some noise when starting up and heating water, but the noise levels are usually reasonable and not cause for concern.

Do you need to vent an electric tankless water heater?

No. Unlike gas tankless water heaters and gas traditional tank style water heaters, electric tankless water heaters do not require any venting. This is often one of the deciding factors when choosing whether you should purchase a gas or electric tankless water heater.

How much electricity does a tankless water heater use?

Most American families use around 50 gallons of hot water per day. To meet this demand, an electric tankless water heater will use 9–12 kWh of electricity. An electric tankless water heater needs about 3 kWh of electricity to heat a 10-minute shower.

How long can you shower with a 20 gallon water heater?

I generally take a 5-10 minute shower on a 20 gallon HWH which is fine for me. I don't think changing the temperature will make a difference, yes it'll increase temperature for those 30 gallons but after that it'll drop temp until the temp can build up again. The low flow showerhead I think is your best bet.

Does it take longer to get hot water with a tankless water heater?

If you have a tankless water heater then you probably already know that it takes longer to get hot water with a tankless water heater than with an old fashioned storage tank type water heater. Typically tankless water heaters take 10 to 20 seconds longer to get hot water to the fixtures.

Can you drink hot water from tankless water heater?

“Hot water corrodes pipe metal and could become unsafe to drink.” When hot water runs through your pipes, it corrodes the metal and could become unsafe to drink. Even homes with “lead-free” plumbing aren't safe, as they might still contain trace amounts of lead according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Can a tankless water heater work for the whole house?

Built with scale-reduction technology, both electric tankless and gas tankless whole-house water heaters perform with high efficiency and are built to serve a wide range of applications. A whole-house tankless water heater is built to provide continuous hot water whenever you need it.

Which is better hot water heater or tankless?

According to Energy.gov, “For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand (or tankless) water heaters can be 24% to 34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters.” Tankless water heaters (if gas-fired) will save homeowners over $100 annually the longer they remain in service.

Can a tankless water heater be installed in a closet?

Your tankless water heater can be installed just about anywhere! Due to the small size of your water heater, it can be mounted in many small spaces, including closets, under sinks, in pantries, or under stair storage areas.