Traditional hot water heaters, whether gas or electric, are still the number one choice for consumers. Even in new housing developments, one will see that tank heaters are the first choice for installation because they are cheaper to purchase, cheaper to install, and cheaper to maintain. In addition, they are very energy efficient and effective at keeping up with most consumers’ hot water needs. Thanks to new laws, tank water heaters are safer too.
Compared to tankless water heaters, traditional water heaters are 3 times cheaper; costing the average consumer around $1000 to purchase including installation code costs versus the $3000 that it would cost to install a tankless water heating system. They also install in around 2 hours, versus the almost 10 hours that it would take to install a tankless heater, because they do not require a larger gas line or special venting. Because most home owners keep their water heater in the garage next to the furnace, traditional water heaters do not even reduce the amount of usable space available in the home. Less complex than the tankless water heating systems, the traditional water heaters require far less in maintenance costs.
Surprisingly, traditional water heaters are now up to 96% thermally efficient and because most homeowners don’t require large amounts of water to be available at any given time, tank heaters are sufficient for most consumers’ needs. New laws requiring sealed burners and safety straps means that there are far fewer accidents associated with the traditional heaters, making them safer to use and operate. Add to that the cost savings and it’s no wonder that traditional water heaters are still the first choice in water heating systems.
A.O. Smith, American, Rheem-Ruud, and Bradford White are four major US manufacturers of the traditional tank style water heating systems and there are no major differences in these four makers’ brands. A system bought under any of these four manufacturers’ names will give you all of the benefits mentioned in this article. These manufacturers can be found through most plumbers, or any major appliance carrier in the U.S.
There are benefits to the new tankless system, but the tank hot water heater is alive and well, energy efficient, and cost-effective. Check them out before investing in a major expenditure to retro-fit a tankless system.