Tankless Issues – The Facts and the Fiction

Some people are very resistant to change, I don’t know what it is but some will fight it until the end of time. A recent Toronto HVAC company posted a large article on their website outlining all the negative aspects of a tankless system and how they would never recommend it nor install one. We install both systems and you know what, they both have their positives and negatives. I hope to detail the issues a little further here and let you decide which system you want for your home.
There is no big savings – This is very subjective, here are the facts.

    Tankless

  • A tankless will cost you more money upfront than a conventional tank system. True.
  • A tankless will last longer -20 plus years.
  • Unit and Installation costs are more expensive. True.
  • Efficiency of a tankless remains at or just below initial claims for lifespan.
  • Much higher efficiency, 82% regular tankless, 98% condensing tankless.
  • A tankless does require cleaning to maintain such high efficiency (vinegar rinse).
  • Tankless systems do need and use electricity.
  • $375 Government grant available for new tankless.

    • Conventional Tank Water Heater

  • Conventional tanks loose 2-3% efficiency per year (scale build-up)
  • Cheaper to purchase and install
  • Conventional tank lifespan – 12 plus years
  • Some tank systems need zero electricity
  • Conventional tank heaters start at between 58% and 68% efficiency

Which system is better on your pocket book? It’s going to be up to you as there is a number of factors, including the price of natural gas, which will likely only rise over time.

Upfront costs are high - Yes, it will cost you more for a tankless than a conventional tank, your homes particular usage will significantly affect a breakeven point and whether a tankless is a good idea or if you should stick with a conventional tank system.

High Tankless Maintenance Costs – Your conventional tank has basically zero maintenance barring anything breaks but it loses 2-3 percent efficiency a year. You can flush a conventional tank and regain some of its efficiency with the removal of scale build-up. A tankless is usually flushed once every year or two, which consists of simply pumping vinegar through the system for 30 minutes or so. All tankless systems should have flush valves already installed and this will maintain the extremely high efficiency ratings. I wouldn’t say that a tankless has higher maintenance costs, its just that no one does it for a conventional tank.

Electricity Use - A tankless does need electricity to run sensors, a vent fan, and a starter, this is true. Some tank type water heaters need zero electricity, but if you have a power vented conventional tank system your water heater is using just as much electricity as a tankless would.

The fact of the matter is that a home really needs to be analyzed to see whether a tankless makes sense or if the home owner would continue to benefit from a conventional tank water heater. I won’t make claims on how much can or can’t be saved because any number would be a wild generalizations and any company that does, shouldn’t be trusted.

As always we do offer free consultations over the phone, or at your home. If interested give us a call or send us a quick message here

See Also:

  1. Tankless Water Heater Facts
  2. Does a Tankless Water Heater Save Money?
  3. End of Government Grants for Tankless