Tank Vs. Tankless Waterheater
Tank water heaters and tankless water heaters each have their place based on the type of fuels used, initial cost, maintenance and installation considerations. Does this Spark an idea?
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Tank Water Heaters
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Tank water heaters are either electric, natural gas or oil. On average, tank water heaters last 10 years. Natural gas models last longer, averaging 13 years. Poor maintenance shortens the product lifetime, especially in areas with hard water.
Tankless Water Heaters
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Tankless water heaters are electric, natural gas or propane. They last on average 15 to 20 years. Repair and proper maintenance can extend the product's lifetime.
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Advantages
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Tank water heaters are the least expensive to buy and install. Tankless water heaters heat water only on demand and are more energy efficient. Gas tankless water heaters that meet Energy Star thresholds qualify for a 30-percent tax credit (up to $1,500) for 2009 and 2010.
Disadvantages
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Tank water heaters use more energy than tankless systems, since the entire tank must be heated until the water is needed. Tankless water heaters are more expensive to buy and install.
Applications
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Tank water heaters can be combined with other water heater types for extra storage or as backups.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Casey Serin
