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Triple master contractor Ed Del Grande
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By Ed Del Grande
Q: Dear Mr. Del Grande: We are installing a new bathroom that will use a separate water heater from the rest of the house. Since we're starting from scratch, we can use any type of water heater, and we are stumped with regard to using or not using a tankless water heater. We've spoken to plumbers who would not recommend them and said we would not be happy with the water-flow output. We have also spoken to neighbors who flip houses and say that tankless water heaters are all they install now since they are "the new thing" that potential home buyers are looking for to save energy. Please help us settle this dilemma since we can go no further at this point. Who's right and who's wrong? Should we go with a tankless or conventional storage- tank water heater? Thanks for your expert advice on this matter. Judy (Illinois)
A: Judy, Judy, Judy (to quote Cary Grant), this question is so loaded that I need to use the entire column on it! You raise a topic that is currently splitting the plumbing industry as to the best method to supply hot water to a home. First, keep in mind that tankless water heaters have been around since the '40s, and maybe longer than that. So, contrary to popular belief, this is not a "new" idea to heat water that is sweeping the industry by storm, and they have been popular in Europe for decades. However, due to applying new technology to an old idea and a current push to market them, lately tankless water heaters have been getting a lot of attention.
Basically, a tankless water heater works by rapidly heating the water as it passes through a piping coil rather than putting it in a big pot, heating it slowly and then storing it, as a conventional water heater does. Even though a tankless water heater may use more BTUs (energy) while it's running than a standard storage tank water heater, the mindset is that when there is no need for hot water, you're not paying to heat the same water over and over as a storage water heater might if it sits idle all day.
However, the plumbers you spoke to have a point. Since basic tankless water heaters may have to restrict the water flow to heat the water quickly and constantly, having two or more fixtures running at the same time could draw more water than the tankless heater can supply. As a result, hot-water flow may slow down to the fixtures.
To put it simply, the general rule of thumb between tankless and storage water heaters is this:
- A basic tankless water heater should give you an unlimited hot-water supply with a limited hot-water flow (depending on the number of fixtures being used). For example, if the tankless heater supplies three gallons per minute of hot water and you use two fixtures at the same time that draw more than four gallons of hot water per minute, things may slow down to a trickle at each fixture.
- Under the same conditions, a basic 50-gallon storage water heater should give you a full flow to each fixture (depending on your house water pressure), but with a limited supply of hot water. That's because once the tank is drained of hot water, it will need time to recover.
Tankless water heaters are generally more expensive than storage water heaters, but in many cases may save energy and last longer than standard tank heaters.
Confused and still unsure of the choice, Judy? Welcome to the club! I know plumbers who recommend tankless heaters and other plumbers who will only recommend conventional water heaters. Now you can see why the industry is split; each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Me? I always look at both sides to a story. My advice is to completely research the expected hot-water draw of your new bathroom; find the equivalent models of a tankless vs. a storage tank water heater; add up the total costs to see what best fits your budget; and — most importantly — decide what will work best with your family's lifestyle.
This all gets down to personal choices and you may find that after all your hard work, finding the right water heater could be a tankless job!
Ed Del Grande was born and raised in a family-owned plumbing business. With more than 25 years of experience in every aspect of construction, he holds current Master licenses in pipefitting, fire protection and plumbing. If you have a question for Ed, send him an e-mail at eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.
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