Turning Up The Heat On Tankless Water Heater Myths
You've been watching those tankless water heaters for some time, but you keep hearing things you don't like. Make sure what you're hearing is not just myths by checking out the following common myths about these modern-day water heaters.
Myth: They run out of hot water all the time.
Tankless water heaters can't really run out of hot water. There is no tank to hold the water; the water is heated as it passes through the system and comes in contact with the heating elements. The system can become overloaded and not be able to heat the water fast enough if the demand is too high for the unit you have. However, as long as you have the water heater selected by a professional who knows what size you should need, you should rarely, if ever, encounter no hot water.
Myth: You can't use a tankless water heater if you have a big house.
This myth could not be further from the truth. You can get a water heater without a tank even if you have a rather large home. Even if your house is so large that the largest unit would not handle all of the hot water needs, multiple units can be installed.
Myth: Tankless water heaters never have to be flushed.
Just like traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters do occasionally need to be flushed to get rid of limescale and mineral buildup. If you never flush your new tankless unit, you can run into issues later on. Look for instructions on how to flush your water heater in your owner's manual, or talk to a professional contractor who can help you out.
Myth: You pay a fortune for a tankless water heater.
Tankless water heaters can definitely be a little more costly than traditional models, but they are not as expensive as most people suspect. You will likely pay between $3,500 and $4,500 to get a whole-house tankless water heater installed.
Myth: You can't get a tankless water heater without a major conversion process.
In reality, the only thing they will have to be done to transition from a tank-style water heater to a tankless is to unhook the old unit, mount the new unit on the wall, and reconnect the hose and wiring where they need to go. The process is not that complicated. The hardest part will be getting the old tank heater out of the house.
For more information about tankless water heaters, contact a water heater installation service.