I was talking with an acquaintance in my neighborhood and he happens to be a big fan of tankless water heaters. In fact, he had a great example of how to test whether or not your water heater is efficient.
Have your family members take a shower, run the dishwasher or go outside and wash your car. After an hour, head to your basement and listen to your water heater. Stay down there as long as it takes to re-heat the water. If you have a traditional water heater, you’ll probably be down there for an hour. If you have a tankless water heater, you’ll be able to head back upstairs in about 10 minutes.
The difference between the two types is clear. The tankless option uses less energy to heat water and it only heats water as it is being used. Traditional water heaters will take a good hour to re-heat, and they continue to heat the water even if you don’t need it for another 24 hours.
The tankless models have a higher initial investment, but if you plan to stay in your home long-term, you will realize the benefits. Plus, the tankless models tend to last much longer than traditional water heaters. Like we’ve said before in our blog, plan ahead because you never know when your water heater will die and you’ll want hot water on a winter morning in Cleveland!
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