A tankless water heaters can save energy, but the tank water heater more cheap. How can I decide the choice?

How to choose the best water heaters, tankless water heaters or not?

Tankless water heaters or tank water heaters, which are good for you? A standard water heater is cheap, and not need adjustments to the electric panel of your house. But it would use more energy. A tankless water heater would save space and energy. But it cost more money and need modifications to your house. Is it very difficult to choose a water heater for your home? In fact, it is not so difficult. Let's compare the tankless water heater and the standard water heater now.

The energy price are growing every day. A conventional storage water heater may account for 20% or more of your home's energy costs. So you need to consider the "lift-cycle" cost, the price of the water heater and how much it costs to run it for its lifetime.

A tankless water heater can last longer and have a lower life-cycle cost than other water heaters. Here are some details from American Council and Energy-Efficient Economy:

Conventional tank water heaters
A conventional gas water heater costs about $380, uses $179 in fuel a year and should last about 13 years. That's a total (life-cycle cost) of $2,707. A standard electric water heater costs more than twice as much to run and has a life-cycle cost of $5,680. Ouch!

Yes, you can turn down a conventional heater when you're not around. You can even shut it off completely as long as you know temperatures won't dip below freezing. But it takes time and energy to heat all that water back up next time you need it. It's not exactly a convenient solution.

Tankless water heater savings
Tankless heaters use less energy because they're not trying to keep a tank of water hot all the time. A high efficiency gas heater without a pilot light costs only $90 a year to operate, and it should last 20 years. That adds up to a life-cycle cost of $2,370 - more than $300 cheaper than a standard gas heater.

Electric tankless heaters, by the way, aren't nearly as attractive. Their life-cycle cost over 20 years is an estimated $5,982 - about the same as a conventional electric water heater.

Other things for tankless water heaters
There are two other things to like about gas tankless heaters. As you point out, they don't take up much room. And if you locate the heater close to the shower or sink you won't be waiting forever for hot water to arrive.

Check here for more about Advantages of Using Tankless Water Heaters

On the down side, on-demand heaters are a lot more expensive initially than conventional heaters. In addition, you'll have to run a gas line into the house if you don't already have a gas appliance.

Bottom line? Of the two options you mention, go with a gas tankless water heater model. Its advantages far outweigh its few problems. Just make sure to read the fine print. Make sure your heater will get water hot enough and deliver enough of it to suit your needs.

All of this assumes you plan on holding on to your house for a while. If you're headed for a quick sale, choose a conventional heater.

One other attractive option

But before deciding, consider one other possibility.

If your home is heated with hot water radiators or baseboards, your best choice may be an indirect water heater.

With an indirect water heater, hot water from the boiler runs through a separate, insulated tank where it heats water for domestic use. When connected to an efficient gas or oil boiler, an indirect water heater has the lowest life-cycle cost of all - a total of about $1,900 over a 30-year life span.

So, you can know how to choose the best water heaters for you now. A tankless water heater or others?

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