A lot of people enjoy having hot showers. There are many benefits of taking hot showers, like relieving muscle tension and improving blood circulation. When the winter season comes around, showers can get a little chilly. During these times, water heater installations have become necessary more than ever.
If you’re thinking of having a water heater installed in your home, then find out more about tankless water heaters through our guide. That way, you can better understand how these types of heaters work and when to do maintenance for them.
Traditional Water Heaters vs. Tankless Water Heaters
Water heaters are often costly but a good investment. However, there is a difference between tankless water heaters and traditional storage water heaters. Let’s understand how both of these types work below:
Storage Water Heaters
Storage water heaters keep and warm up water in a tank (usually 30-50 gallons) and release hot water through its pipes to its destination; the bathroom, kitchen, or other sinks.
These traditional storage water heaters can warm water up using gas or electricity. Each type has its pros and cons, but an overall downside to storage tank water heaters is accommodating the space for the tank. If your home is on a smaller scale, perhaps getting a tankless water heater would be best.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters work in the same manner, but there are way more pros. When you opt for one, you get to save more energy because you’ll only heat water on demand instead of maintaining heat through a tank.
Another great thing about tankless water heaters is it has a lifespan of over twenty years with the proper maintenance. It’s a good investment, even if it’s a little pricier than storage water heaters. However, it still needs care, so you might want to look for water heater repairs just in case.
Maintenance for Tankless Water Heaters
Now that you know the basics of a tankless water heater, it’s time to get an overview of their maintenance. Tankless water heaters get branded as “low-maintenance” compared to storage water heaters. Still, the reality is that these heaters need maintenance at least once a year, so start looking for that calling card for water heater maintenance.
Keep in mind, though, that the amount of maintenance it needs per year relies on two different conditions; your area’s hard water level or the use of your water heater.
Hard Water Level
Hard water is the reason why tankless water heaters need maintenance. Every droplet of water is full of minerals, including calcium and magnesium.
Once these minerals go through the heat exchanger in the unit, they can build up and cause clogging. If you don’t do anything to prevent buildup, the result may end up with an expensive electric bill from taking too much time to heat water or replacing the whole unit altogether.
High Temperature
Another main issue for tankless water heaters can come from using a high temperature for your heater all the time.
Minerals will often dissolve quicker when there is heat, and if your hard water level is high, it can quickly clog or build up in your water heating systems.
Final Thoughts
Nowadays, water heaters are a necessity. Before you get one, always consider what kind your home can accommodate. With tankless water heaters, you’ll get more benefits even if it’s a little more expensive.
Additionally, you can extend your heater’s lifespan by investing in its maintenance. It’s always better to perform regular upkeep on your water heater than to completely replace it.
Don’t suffer through cold showers and find one of the best tankless water heaters in Houston, Texas. Houston Water Heaters provides expert tankless water heater installations. Give us a call and get an instant quote from us today!