Top 10 Reasons Not to Install a Tankless Water Heater
There are a lot of good reasons to install a tankless water heater in your home, but realistically, there are also a number of drawbacks that may not make it a good choice for you.
1.
Tankless water heaters require regular ongoing maintenance in order to run at their best efficiency.
Without this maintenance, you may get a build-up of calcium in the piping of your heater.
You can do some of the flushing out and other things yourself however.
2.
Electrical tankless water heaters can require upgraded electrical service of much higher amperage than you currently have.
This is dependent on how many different uses (rooms, showers, appliances, etc.
) that you need to supply at once.
If you use smaller individual heaters at more localized locations, your electrical services will not be as taxed.
3.
The overall cost for upgraded plumbing and electrical service, or gas service can be prohibitive.
You may run into space, distance, or other physical limitations that either prevent a proper installation, or make it more expensive.
4.
You may not qualify for the tax credits or other utility credits.
If you have the need or desire for one of the larger tankless water heaters, it may use too much energy, and not be efficient enough to qualify for the various discounts and rebates.
Of course, functionality may be worth the premium to you.
5.
If you live in a colder climate, you may not find a tankless water heater in your budget, or within reasonable energy efficiency that can raise your water temperature from norms to what you desire.
A whole house unit may not provide all you like, and may need assistance from other booster units.
6.
Tankless water heaters are not water pumps, so if you wish to suddenly use multiple water appliances, your current city water pressure may not give you the flow that you are used to.
7.
If you lose electrical power due to weather or brown-outs, your hot water will not function - even gas units will not ignite and warm your water.
8.
Noise can be a factor if you want a very quiet area near the heater, or the heater is mounted on a surface that transmits sound.
Some units of course can be mounted outside to avoid this, but then you must keep climatic damage in mind.
9.
Venting the exhaust from gas fueled units can be expensive due to zoning/safety requirements to keep the gasses away from windows and doors.
You don't want the exhaust to come back into the house, so sometimes the vent must go all the way to your roof, and if your unit is not a "cool exhaust" model, you must run stainless steel all that distance.
10.
You cannot run a short blast, or a fine trickle of water from the hot taps, as the tankless water heater will not activate under such a low demand flow.
In regular use, you must turn on the tap to a strong flow for a few seconds to get hot water flowing, but many owners simply make a lifestyle adjustment to this factor.
In the long run, these factors are similar to other problems that come with tanked or "boiler" style water heaters as well, and are balanced by many advantages, so you will need to examine your own needs and preferences to make the wise decision.
1.
Tankless water heaters require regular ongoing maintenance in order to run at their best efficiency.
Without this maintenance, you may get a build-up of calcium in the piping of your heater.
You can do some of the flushing out and other things yourself however.
2.
Electrical tankless water heaters can require upgraded electrical service of much higher amperage than you currently have.
This is dependent on how many different uses (rooms, showers, appliances, etc.
) that you need to supply at once.
If you use smaller individual heaters at more localized locations, your electrical services will not be as taxed.
3.
The overall cost for upgraded plumbing and electrical service, or gas service can be prohibitive.
You may run into space, distance, or other physical limitations that either prevent a proper installation, or make it more expensive.
4.
You may not qualify for the tax credits or other utility credits.
If you have the need or desire for one of the larger tankless water heaters, it may use too much energy, and not be efficient enough to qualify for the various discounts and rebates.
Of course, functionality may be worth the premium to you.
5.
If you live in a colder climate, you may not find a tankless water heater in your budget, or within reasonable energy efficiency that can raise your water temperature from norms to what you desire.
A whole house unit may not provide all you like, and may need assistance from other booster units.
6.
Tankless water heaters are not water pumps, so if you wish to suddenly use multiple water appliances, your current city water pressure may not give you the flow that you are used to.
7.
If you lose electrical power due to weather or brown-outs, your hot water will not function - even gas units will not ignite and warm your water.
8.
Noise can be a factor if you want a very quiet area near the heater, or the heater is mounted on a surface that transmits sound.
Some units of course can be mounted outside to avoid this, but then you must keep climatic damage in mind.
9.
Venting the exhaust from gas fueled units can be expensive due to zoning/safety requirements to keep the gasses away from windows and doors.
You don't want the exhaust to come back into the house, so sometimes the vent must go all the way to your roof, and if your unit is not a "cool exhaust" model, you must run stainless steel all that distance.
10.
You cannot run a short blast, or a fine trickle of water from the hot taps, as the tankless water heater will not activate under such a low demand flow.
In regular use, you must turn on the tap to a strong flow for a few seconds to get hot water flowing, but many owners simply make a lifestyle adjustment to this factor.
In the long run, these factors are similar to other problems that come with tanked or "boiler" style water heaters as well, and are balanced by many advantages, so you will need to examine your own needs and preferences to make the wise decision.
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