A hot water tank will generally last between 7 to 10 years. Depending on the condition of the water in your home, that number can drop to 5 years or less. The most common cause of failure for hot water tank heaters is corrosion at the base of the tank, leading to water leaking out and all over the floor.
When it’s time to replace the hot water heating system in your home, consider a tankless system.
A tankless hot water heater is also known as ‘hot water on demand.’ It is just as it sounds: a system of heating water in your home that doesn’t require a storage tank. This not only saves water, it also saves a lot of money on utility bills.
Let us explain.
When you have a tank style hot water heater (the standard sizes tend to range between 40 and 50 gallons), the water is stored in the tank. Heating elements inside the tank heat the water to the desired temperature. Any time that the water temperature drops below a programmed threshold, the heating core is engaged, using more energy to heat the water back up.
Any time that you’re not using hot water, you’re still paying for it to be heated. On top of that, you will likely have noticed that when you turn on the hot water at the tap, you have to wait for it to reach the faucet. This wastes water.
A tankless system is usually installed close to where it is needed most, such as a master bathroom or kitchen and flash boils water as it moves through the pipes. So you will get hot water within moments of turning on the faucet and the water will only be heated when you need it. If you go away for a week, you won’t be paying for water to be heated needlessly.
You’ll save money on your heating bills and also save water. It’s a win-win situation, so contact an HVAC company to learn more about how a tankless hot water system can benefit your home and your family.