With their sleek design and promises of endless hot water, tankless water heaters sound too good to be true.
But are they right for your home?
In this guide, I break down the pros and cons of tankless water heaters. You’ll learn how they work, their efficiency, costs, maintenance needs, and how they compare to standard tank-style water heaters.
Use the links below to navigate the guide:
- Pros & Cons of Tankless Water Heaters: Key Takeaways
- Pro: Long-term Energy and Cost Savings
- Pro: Unlimited Supply of Hot Water
- Pro: Less Space
- Pro: Lower Risk of Leaks and Water Damage
- Pro: Zero Risk of Tank Exploding
- Pro: Lower Risk of Burns and Exposure to Toxic Metals
- Pro: Life Expectancy of Over 20 Years
- Con: High Upfront Cost of the Unit and Installation
- Con: Maintenance
- Con: Take Longer to Deliver Hot Water
- Con: Cold Water Sandwich
- Con: Inconsistent Water Temperature When Multiple Outlets Are in Use
- Con: Difficult to Achieve a Lukewarm Temperature
- Con: No Access to Hot Water During a Power Outage
- What Experts Say About Tankless Water Heaters
- Bottom Line: Is a Tankless Water Heater Worth It?
Pros & Cons of Tankless Water Heaters: Key Takeaways
Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand or instant water heaters, have many advantages over traditional tank-style water heaters and can be an excellent long-term investment.
But, like any product, they have downsides and are not the right solution for every home.
Unlike traditional tank-style water heaters, which continuously use energy to maintain a hot water supply, tankless water heaters only expend energy when you turn on a hot water tap or use appliances that require hot water.
This on-demand style of operation results in their most significant advantage: energy and cost savings.
Besides energy and cost savings, there are several other reasons to choose a tankless water heater over a traditional tank-style heater. Tankless water heaters produce an endless supply of hot water, take up less space, have a lower risk of leaking, are safer, and have a significantly longer lifespan on average.
The main disadvantage of tankless water heaters is their upfront cost (unit and installation) is significantly higher than tank-style heaters. Including installation, tankless water heaters cost three times more than tank-style water heaters on average.
In addition to higher upfront costs, tankless water heaters have several other disadvantages compared to tank-style water heaters. They take longer to deliver hot water, the water temperature is inconsistent when multiple outlets are on simultaneously, and they cannot provide hot water during a power outage.
Plus, tankless heaters need to be flushed annually by a plumber to remove mineral buildup in the heat exchanger, which can damage the unit over time. Failure to follow this maintenance routine may void the warranty.
Pro: Long-term Energy and Cost Savings
The main advantage of tankless water heaters is that they are energy efficient and save you money over the long term.
A tank-style water heater expends energy around the clock to maintain the temperature of a 40 to 50-gallon water supply so that hot water is ready when it’s needed.
Tankless water heaters, as their name suggests, heat water on-demand and do not maintain a supply of water.
By only heating water when it’s needed, tankless water heaters do not experience standby heat loss, which occurs when heat escapes the water tank and needs constant reheating.
When a tap, shower, or appliance is turned on, cold water passes through the tankless water heater where it’s heated by either a gas-fired burner or electric coils.
Once the water is heated (this happens in seconds), the hot water travels through the pipes and out the tap, showerhead, or any other outlet in your home.
So how much energy will you save?
Your energy savings depends on the amount of water you use and the efficiency of your previous tank-style system.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tankless water heaters can be between 8% and 50% more energy-efficient than tank-style water heaters, but the actual efficiency depends on the amount of hot water you use.
If you use less than 41 gallons of hot water per day, a tankless heater is 24%-34% more efficient than a tank-style heater.
If you use a lot of hot water, around 86 gallons per day, tankless water heaters are only 8% to 14% more efficient since they are running more often.
If you install tankless water heaters at each outlet (shower/sink) instead of a centralized system for your entire house, you can save even more; between 27% and 50%.
Switching from a tank-style water heater to a tankless water heater will save a family of four an average of $100 per year or over $1500 throughout the lifetime of the system, according to Energy Star.
Pro: Unlimited Supply of Hot Water
Here’s a scenario; you come home from a family beach day and everyone in the house needs to take a shower. By the fifth shower in a row, the hot water is running low, and you’re the one stuck taking a cold shower.
If you have a tankless water heater, you will never find yourself in that scenario. Let me explain.
Each tankless water heater has a maximum flow rate; in other words, they’re only able to heat a certain amount of water at a given time.
If you have 5 showers running simultaneously, most tankless heaters won’t be able to keep up.
However, as long as your water usage at any given time is below the maximum allowable flow rate, tankless water heaters provide an endless supply of hot water.
Since tankless water heaters work by heating water from the external source on-demand, you could take a shower for 10 hours (or longer), and the water would be as hot as it would be for a 10-minute shower.
Pro: Take Up Less Space
If space in your home is limited, tankless water heaters provide a huge benefit. They are usually mounted to the wall and take up significantly less physical space compared to tank-style water heaters.
To give you an idea of how tankless and tank-style water heaters compare in terms of size, the average 40 to 50-gallon tank-style heater is 54 to 60 inches tall with a 20-inch diameter and is shaped like a cylinder.
The average tankless unit is around 27 inches tall, 18 inches wide, 10 inches deep, and rectangular.
Tank-style heaters take up floor space, usually in the basement, while tankless units are mounted to a wall like a circuit breaker and can fit in most closets.
Pro: Lower Risk of Leaks and Water Damage
One of the biggest risks with tank-style heaters is, over time, minerals from hard water build-up within the tank which leads to corrosion and eventually leaks.
Since tankless water heaters don’t have a tank, there is no risk of leaks or flooding.
This doesn’t mean that tankless water heaters are immune to issues. They can and will run into problems that could result in leaking, but the chances of having a major leak that floods your entire basement and causes significant damage are slim.
Pro: Zero Risk of Tank Exploding
Today’s plumbing code requires all tank-style water heaters to have a temperature and pressure relief valve that opens to release pressure and eliminate the possibility of the tank exploding.
Over time, minerals and sediment from the water can clog up the valve and prevent it from functioning properly.
When this happens, a dangerous amount of pressure can build-up and put you at risk. If you have a tank-style water heater, experts recommend testing the valve at least once a year; learn how in this video.
Although it rarely happens, explosions are a serious risk with tank-style water heaters. Fortunately, since tankless heaters do not have a tank, there is absolutely zero risk of an explosion ever occurring. One less thing to stress out over.
Pro: Lower Risk of Burns and Exposure to Toxic Metals
Many experts argue that tankless water heaters are safer than tank-style heaters.
Besides the fact that they don’t have a tank that could explode, they also provide more precise control over the temperature so you’re less likely to be burned by hot water.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, tank-style heaters break down over time due to hard water causing the inner lining of the tank to rust and corrode.
Those minerals and particles eventually make their way into your water lines and expose your family to harmful toxins.
Since tankless water heaters don’t maintain a supply of water in a corroding tank, the water they distribute throughout your home is more pure and safer on your skin.
Pro: Life Expectancy of Over 20 Years
I recently published an article that covers the topic of how long water heaters last and explains how to extend the life of your water heater.
On average, tank-style water heaters last between 8 and 12 years, however, tankless water heaters usually last over 20 years.
If you’re already in your “forever home” or plan to stay where you are for a while, investing in a tankless water heater will save you from needing a replacement for a very long time.
Con: High Upfront Cost of the Unit and Installation
The biggest downside of tankless water heaters by far is the high upfront cost of the unit and installation.
According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of a 40 to 50-gallon tank-style water heater including installation is $1,000. The average cost of a tankless water heater including installation is $2,500.
I spoke to several local plumbers in my area and they quoted me closer to $1,700 for tank-style and between $3,000 and $5,000 for tankless, but the exact pricing will vary by region. Regardless, tankless units are more expensive by a large margin no matter where you live.
Tankless water heats are more expensive primarily due to higher installation costs. Often times, special wiring needs to be installed in order to handle the increased load and/or a new vent pipe needs to be installed.
Also, since tank-style heaters have been around longer and are more common, more professionals are capable of installing them and the labor costs are lower.
Additionally, hard water (water containing high levels of minerals) can cause tankless water heaters to work harder and eventually break down.
Due to this risk, some manufacturers require that you also install a water softening system, or the warranty is voided. Installing this additional component adds to the overall cost.
Use the links below to compare the prices of popular tank and tankless water heaters. Please note that these prices do not include installation.
| Water Heater | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Rheem Performance Platinum 9.5 GPM | Tankless | HomeDepot.com |
| Rheem Performance Platinum 8.4 GPM | Tankless | HomeDepot.com |
| Rinnai High-Efficiency Plus 11 GPM | Tankless | HomeDepot.com |
| Rheem Performance 40 Gal | Tank | HomeDepot.com |
| Rheem Performance 30 Gal | Tank | HomeDepot.com |
| Sure Comfort 40 Gal | Tank | HomeDepot.com |
Con: Maintenance
Tankless water heaters are not a set-it-and-forget-it type of appliance; you need to maintain them to keep them operating efficiently. Over time, minerals and sediment from hard water can build up in the system.
According to Rheem, one of the largest tankless water heater manufacturers, you need to clean the water filter monthly by unscrewing it and rinsing it under water.
Additionally, you’ll need a professional to perform annual maintenance. During the maintenance visit, they will flush out and descale the system.
This service isn’t optional. If you put it off, mineral buildup will make the system less efficient, and flow rate will decrease. In other words, water won’t get to your faucets and shower heads as fast.
If you go too long without flushing out the system, the buildup can corrupt the heat exchanger and ruin the water heater. Also, skipping annual maintenance will void most warranties.
Con: Take Longer to Deliver Hot Water
Another downside to tankless water heaters is the fact that they take longer to generate and deliver hot water compared to tank-style heaters.
Remember, tankless water heaters don’t keep a supply of hot water ready to flow immediately when you need it.
When you turn on a hot water tap, the idle water in the pipes is cool or, at best, room temperature.
Once that cool water is flushed out, heated water comes through, however, it can take between a few seconds and a minute depending on the distance between the heater and the tap.
Tank-style heaters don’t produce hot water instantly either but since they have a supply ready to go and don’t need to kick on, it reaches the outlet more quickly.
Con: Cold Water Sandwich
In researching tankless water heaters you’ve likely come across the term “cold water sandwich”.
A cold water sandwich occurs when intermittent use of hot water causes you to feel an initial surge of hot water, followed by cold water, which quickly turns hot again.
When you turn the hot water off and on quickly, like you would when you’re hand-washing dishes, the pipes have hot water in them from moments ago.
The short delay between when the water starts to flow and when the heater kicks on causes a short burst of cold water before turning hot.
The cold water sandwich sensation isn’t a major issue but it can throw you off if you’re not used to it.
Con: Inconsistent Water Temperature When Multiple Taps/Showers/Appliances Are in Use
Earlier in this article, I talked about the scenario when your family comes home from a beach day and everyone needs to take a shower.
The benefit of tankless water heaters in that scenario is that your whole family can take showers back-to-back without worrying about running out of hot water.
The downside is that, if you have multiple showers running at the same time, tankless water heaters are not able to keep up.
This isn’t just a problem with showers, depending on the size of your water heater, you can run into issues by having a shower and the dishwasher running at the same time.
When your shopping for tankless water heaters, the key metric you want to look at is flow rate.
Flow rate is the amount of water that a tankless unit can heat at a given time. It’s measured in Gallons Per Minute or GPM, the higher the GPG, the more water can be heated at the same time.
The chart below gives you an idea of the average flow rates for each type of outlet.
| Outlet | Average Flow Rates (GPM) |
|---|---|
| Bathroom Faucet | .5 to 1.5 |
| Dishwasher | 1 to 1.5 |
| Kitchen Faucet | 1.5 |
| Washing Machine | 1.5 to 3 |
| Shower | 2.5 to 3 |
| Tub | 4 |
Bottom line— tankless water heaters come in many different sizes with some equipped to handle households that use a ton of water to smaller units built for low water usage.
It’s important to determine what you need for your household and buy the appropriate size heater. Just remember, if you run too many taps/showers/appliances at once and exceed the flow rate capacity of your water heater, the water won’t be hot.
Here’s a quick guide to help you determine which size tankless water heater you need.
Con: Difficult to Achieve a Lukewarm Temperature
One of the lesser-known downsides of tankless water heaters is that they have difficulty achieving a lukewarm water temperature.
Since tankless water heaters need a minimum amount of water flow before activating, there’s a gap between completely cold water and the coolest warm water that you can create with a hot and cold water mix.
Not the end of the world since there are very few scenarios where you won’t be able to reach the temperature you need, but it’s worth mentioning if you’re the type of person that really enjoys cool showers.
Con: No Access to Hot Water During a Power Outage
When a storm comes and knocks out power in your home, it also knocks out the hot water.
Tankless water heaters can be powered by gas or electricity but even gas-powered tankless water heaters rely on an electric control panel to operate the system.
So, regardless of the type of tankless water heater you have, you’ll be out of hot water in the event of a power outage.
This is an area where tank-style water heaters have a significant advantage over tankless. Regardless of the power source, the water stored in their tank will remain hot for several days.
What Experts Say About Tankless Water Heaters
I spoke with the owner of Sullivan Plumbing and Heating, a Massachusetts company, to get an expert opinion on tankless water heaters. When we connected, I asked two questions:
- What are the pros and cons of tankless water heaters?
- Are they worth the higher price?
He said, “Tankless water heaters can save you money long term because you’re using energy to keep a supply of water hot twenty-four seven, but they have two major downsides.”
“The first downside is the price. Tankless units are much more expensive than tanks. Tankless runs around $3,000 to $5,000, including labor. Tank-style heaters are usually less than $2000,” he said.
When I asked why they’re so much more, he explained, “With tankless water heaters, you have to install outside vents for the intake and exhaust, and the water and gas lines need to be reworked. There’s a lot involved with the installation. Most plumbers charge between $150 and $200 an hour, and installing a tankless water heater takes a full day.
“Besides price, the biggest downside is the required maintenance. With tankless heaters, a plumber will need to service the unit every year. They’ll flush out the tank with water and vinegar and remove all the mineral buildup that can eat away at the heat exchanger. Most warranties require a service record to remain valid.”
When I asked if he recommends tank-style or tankless water heaters, he said, “What you choose depends on how many people live in your home. Tankless heaters heat the water on demand. So if you’re running the shower and someone turns on the dishwasher and washing machine, the tankless heater won’t be able to keep up, and your shower will be cold. With tank heaters, every faucet and appliance gets hot water until the tank runs out.
“For households of three people or fewer, tankless water heaters are worth it. But I always recommend a tank for families of four or more.”
Bottom Line: Is a Tankless Water Heater Worth It?
Tankless water heaters have several advantages over traditional tank-style water heaters. They save energy (and save you money), they provide unlimited hot water, they’re small and compact, they never leak and don’t contribute to harmful metals in your water.
Best of all, they last twice as long as tank-style water heaters.
On the flip side, you’ll have to invest around $3,000 upfront, they provide inconsistent water temperature in many situations, and leave you without any hot water during a power outage. Plus, they require annual maintenance to remove mineral buildup.
The best way to decide whether a tankless water heater is right for you is to audit your situation.
Here are some simple questions to ask yourself:
- Do you have $3,000 to invest in an appliance that won’t provide a return on your investment for several years?
- Is your house new construction or are you planning on staying in it for a long time (10+ years)?
- Do you often run out of hot water due to several showers back-to-back?
- Could you benefit from extra space in your basement (who couldn’t?)?
- Do you have three or fewer people living in your home?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, a tankless water heater might be right for you. If you answered “no” to one or more of these questions, especially, question #1, you should probably hold off and stick with a tank-style heater.
To learn more and check out the latest models, check out tankless water heaters on Amazon and HomeDepot.com.
To get a sense of the installation costs in your area, you can get free, no-obligation quotes from professionals on HomeAdvisor.com. You’ll get quotes from several professionals instantly and so you can compare them side-by-side and get the best rate possible.
If you found this article helpful, you should also check out these recent articles:
- How Much Does a Water Heater Weigh? (With 37 Examples)
- 6 Ways to Fix Standing Water in the Bottom of Your Dishwasher
- How Much Water Does a Washing Machine Use? (With 28 Real Examples)
- How Long Do Hot Water Heaters Last? 5 Ways to Extend Their Life
- How to Fix a Dryer That’s Not Drying (10 DIY Solutions)
- HomeAdvisor vs. Angie’s List: Differences, Similarities, Pros, and Cons
- Blinds vs. Shades: Which Window Covering Is Right for Your Home?
- Average Cast Iron Bathtub Weight (With 15 Examples)
- What Is a Sewer Bill? How It’s Calculated & Why It’s So High
- Average Washing Machine and Dryer Weight (With 40 Examples)
- How Much Water Does a Dishwasher Use? (25 Real Examples)
Very happy with our Navien tankless water heat in a 80 year old, 3 story home (HWH in basement) for a family of 3. An internal circulation pump eliminates the “cold water sandwich” and we have not issues of inconsistent temps with two people showering and dishwasher or washing machine running.
The need for regular maintenance is somewhat related to the hardness of your water. Our tankless unit continues to perform as well as the day it was installed 6 years ago with no filter cleaning nor vinegar treatment. Even the plumber said maintenance is rarely needed.
Thank you for sharing. Glad the tankless system is working for you!
i installed two pressure relief valves and still leaks
There is another aspect to the “Difficult to Achieve a Lukewarm Temperature” issue, and it’s been bedeviling me this summer with my Noritz EZ98.
It’s not just the amount of flow that determines whether the unit will turn on, it is the amount the water must be heated. My Noritz will happily run if I ask it to heat 1 gpm by 40 degrees (say, raising 80-degree water to 120). But if warm water raises my inlet temperature to 85 degrees – as can happen in a Southern California summer – the Noritz will not heat it. The energy required to heat 1 gpm by 35 degrees is below the burn threshold, and the Noritz will not heat it.
The “solution” is to demand more hot water, either by making the shower hotter or increasing the total water flow – which may require removing showerhead flow restrictors. That’s a terrible solution here in the DroughtWest, and I’m now experiencing buyer’s remorse.
If there’s some upgrade that will allow me to heat with a smaller burn – and thus lower the burn threshold, I’d love to hear about it.
Hi Nathan – I’m not familiar with that particular unit. I would contact the manufacturer or a local pro. Sorry – I don’t want to give you the wrong advice.
I live in an apartment in a block in the UK and my landlord has told me he is looking into installing a tankless hot water system. Several people in my block already have these systems and are delighted with them. I had suggested it to my landlord some time ago but he was against it (probably due to the price!). However, as I said, he now wants to do it. Hurray! I found your article very interesting and it answered many of my questions. Thanks.
Awesome! They definitely have pros and cons, but it sounds like he good outweighs the bad for your situation. Best of luck!
One of the things you left out of the article is the cost of maintaining the tankless water heaters. I’ve had my Rinnai descaled several times now in the 11 years I have had it, this is to prevent lime scale build up in the heat exchanger which would cause damage to it. In my case it costs about $350.00 to perform this process.
Great point – thanks for sharing!
My mom has a tankless water heater and you have to let the water run a long time to get hot water. That is a waste of a lot of good water in my opinion. The worst part is they are loud when you turn the hot water on and it stays loud until you turn the water off. I personally will not get one because of those two issues.
My kitchen faucet is far away from the tank water heater. I have to let the water run for probably a minute every time I want hot water. I want to install a small tankless water heater next to my faucet to heat the cold water coming from my hot water heater so I have instant hot water and do not waste so much water. Will this work?
Yes! It sounds like you need a “point of use” tankless water heater. Before you buy one, contact whoever is installing it and make sure it will work in your situation.
Very good article bringing the various options forward and concerns!
We live in drought-plagued California and try to conserve water use. Does tank or tankless have any differential impact on water waste while waiting for hot water?
Hi Kamila,
Great question. The short answer is: it depends.
In general, since tank-style water heaters maintain a supply of hot water, the water is ready to go. Since tankless units heat the water on demand, you may have to wait a few seconds for the hot water to come through (wasting more water).
So, if your only concern is limiting water usage, you’ll likely be better off with a tank-style unit.
This article has more information on this topic if you want more details.
I hope this helps!
Andrew
Hello,
We live in a mobile home. The water heater is in the front bathroom. The kitchen sink and the bathroom in the back seldom get hot water. Does it make sense to install a small tankless water heater for the kitchen sink and maybe one for the bathroom?
Thanks,
Adelle
Hi Adelle – A tankless water heater could help, but it’s impossible to give you a definitive recommendation without having much more information. My best advice is to have a local pro take a look. Good luck!
I am having trouble finding the person to install it. I called the vendor and he was nice, but since I live in a condo, he said he does not do condos. Where should I look for to find a professional installer? Do you know or can recommend anyone? I am in Miami, close to Miami International Airport, we have a 2 bathroom apartment, and we are only 2 people in my house. Thank you for that excellent article.
Hi JC,
Unless you know someone or have a friend that can give you a referral, I recommend getting free estimates on HomeAdvisor.com. All you have to do is fill out your location and the job you’re looking for, and several installers will contact you with prices. I’ve used HomeAdvisor many times with success.
Good luck!
Andrew
We have a dishwasher that began having problems shortly after we installed a tankless hot water heater. I think the dishwasher is going into a fail mode because it senses that the heater coil at the bottom if not working because the dishwasher is letting cold water in. I do preheat the water before starting the dishwasher, but can’t really stand there and preheat each time the dishwasher drains and goes through its next cycles. Any ideas?
Hi David,
I’m sorry to hear about your issue. That is incredibly frustrating.
Call your plumber and ask about installing either a recirculation loop or a point-of-use water heater.
With both, hot water will arrive at your dishwasher much faster.
But, without knowing your exact situation, one solution might be better than the other.
I wish you the best of luck!
Andrew
Great article, very helpful. Thank you
Hi David – I’m glad you found it helpful!
Hey Andrew, thanks for the article. Super helpful.
My pleasure. Thanks for stopping by the site.
Does it really take longer to get the hot water to the tap? If this is based solely on the distance the heater is from the tap, then it should be the same whether it is a tank or tankless.
Inconsistent water temp if multiple taps are on? We have a tank and when I flush the toilet or wash my hands while my wife is in the shower, she screams. I think this may be the same with both styles.
It seems like you are biased to tank style water heaters and are bending the examples to try to make them seem pretty comparable.
The reason it takes longer to get hot water to the tap is because tankless water heaters don’t store a supply of hot water ready to flow immediately when you need it. The system needs to kick on and start heating the water, rather than immediately sending pre-heated water like tank-style water heaters do.
To answer your second question, when you have multiple taps on at the same time, you could be exceeding your tankless water heater’s flow rate, causing inconsistent temperatures.
Flow rate is the amount of water that a tankless unit can heat at a given time.
In other words, tankless water heaters have a limit to the amount of water they can heat at once.
Inconsistent temperature is less likely to occur with a tank-style heater because the water is already heated; however, it’s common to experience quick increases in temperature when one person is in the shower and someone else flushed the toilet or washing their hands. This happens because the toilet and sink will pull cold water from your system and interrupt the mix of hot and cold water going to the shower.
I have no bias whatsoever to any style of water heater. I think both tankless and tank-style water heaters have pros and cons, and my goal is to lay out the facts so you can make the right decision for your home.
I hope this helps clear things up.
Thanks for stopping by!
Andrew
Just to add to your answer…In our apartment, we have a point of entry 20-micron sediment water filter and when we start to notice inconsistent temperatures, it is a sign that the washable filter cartridges are clogged and need to be cleaned! Thanks for your article!
Hi Richard,
Great question. To determine the appropriate size, you need to calculate the flow rate and the temperature rise that you will need at any given time.
In other words, you need to determine the max gallons per minute you will need, and the difference between the water temperature coming in and the temperature you desire for each application.
These two articles explain it better than I ever could:
– https://learn.compactappliance.com/tankless-water-heater-sizing/
– https://www.ecomfort.com/stories/1659-What-Size-Tankless-Water-Heater-Do-I-Need.html
Installing a tankless water heater is NOT a DIY job. It often requires special wiring and venting. I do NOT recommend attempting it yourself.
I hope this helps. I wish you the best of luck!
Andrew
We have a tankless water heater and it takes several minutes to heat the water ….it is infruriating to have to turn on water and wait and wait for hot water before i wash my hands or get in the shower. I hate our tankless water heater.
Hi Mary,
I’m sorry to hear about your issue.
Since tankless water heaters don’t maintain a supply of hot water, it takes time for the cold water to flush out of the pipes and the heated water to reach your faucet.
If it takes more than a minute, you should contact the installer to see if there’s an opportunity to adjust the settings so that you can access hot water more quickly.
Best of luck!
Andrew
Andrew, what might have caused this in her case? In general…
It’s difficult to say for sure without knowing more details.
There could be an issue with the water heater or the water heater settings.
Or, there could be too much distance between the water heater and the tap.
I mentioned in the article that, since tankless water heaters don’t maintain a supply of hot water as tank-style heaters do, the heating process starts when you turn on the tap.
If the heater is in the basement and the tap is three floors above, it can take a minute or two for the cool water to flush out of the pipes and for the heated water to flow through.
In this case, I recommend talking to the installer or a local pro to assess the situation.
We just purchased a tankless water heater. The problem we are having is we have a well and we always had low water pressure but now with this new system, it’s even worse. If we flush a toilet or try to fill our washing machine with water, we get a very slow stream of water coming out of our kitchen sink. Is this something that the water heater company can help us with or are we going to have to dig a new well??
Hi Carol,
Unfortunatly, without knowing more about your system, I can’t give you sound advice.
Several things could be causing the low pressure.
Since the issue just started after you installed the tankless water heater, I would highly recommend calling the water heater company and asking them to come to take a look.
Best of luck!
Andrew
My husband and I want a new water heater, so we wanted to see our options. I didn’t know tankless water heaters give you an unlimited supply of hot water. My husband and I use a lot of water, so we’ll look more into tankless water heaters!
It’s great that this article explains how tankless water heaters cost more upfront and they have an endless supply and also takes up less space. When choosing a system, it would probably help to consider your budget and where you want it to be installed to determine if a tankless one would be best or if you want a different option. Once you’ve figured out which one to get, it might be a good idea to research local water heater installers in order to find out which one can provide the type of system you choose and install it correctly so it works.