Tankless vs. Traditional Water Heaters: Which Is Right for Your Home?
Shopping for a new water heater comes down to one choice, tank or tankless. Both work well. The right pick depends on how much hot water your household uses and what your home is already set up for.
The Case for a Traditional Tank
A tank water heater keeps a set amount of hot water stored and ready. It's familiar and dependable, and it costs less to install up front. If you're swapping an old tank for a new one in the same spot, the job is usually simple. For a typical household that isn't running out of hot water now, a tank is still a good choice. The trade-off is that it keeps that water hot around the clock, including while you're at work or asleep.
What You Get With Tankless
A tankless unit heats water as you use it. Nothing sits in a tank, so you aren't paying to keep gallons of water hot all day. You also get more hot water for back-to-back showers, which matters in a full house. The unit mounts on the wall and frees up floor space in the garage or utility closet. With proper maintenance, a tankless system can also last longer than a tank. Harris Plumbing installs Navien tankless water heaters along with standard gas and electric models.
What Your Home Needs First
This is where the decision usually gets made. A gas tankless unit burns much more fuel at once than a tank does, so the existing gas line is sometimes too small to feed it. Venting is different too, and electric models can need more capacity at the panel. None of that rules tankless out. It does add to the cost of the install, so it belongs in the bid from the start. Sizing a gas line for a tankless water heater is work we do ourselves, which keeps the whole job with one contractor.
Not Sure Which Way to Go?
We'll look at your current setup and ask how your family uses hot water. If you want to compare a tankless vs. tank water heater side by side, we'll give you a free bid on both. Harris Plumbing has been family-owned and operated since 1998. For tankless water heater installation in Folsom, El Dorado Hills, or anywhere nearby, call us and we'll help you sort it out.
