Is your water heater leaking, malfunctioning, failing to generate hot water and/or over 10 years old? If so, you may need a replacement sooner than you anticipated.

Tankless Water HeaterWith over 35 years of experience servicing the region, when a water heater replacement is necessary Atlas Home Services recommends switching to a tankless water heater. Why?

Compared to tank-types, tankless water heaters are more:

  • Convenient 

  • Energy-efficient

  • Cost-effective 

  • Durable 

While periodic maintenance can improve your water heater’s efficiency and extend its lifespan, your tanked water heater cannot run indefinitely. When repairs are not a viable option, Atlas Home Services encourages switching to a tankless water heater.

Tankless water heaters are superior due to the following reasons:

1. Convenience: Tankless water heaters provide unlimited hot water on-demand and as-needed. 

Tanked water heaters, despite their large size, have a limited reservoir of hot water that must be continuously heated to provide hot water. Too much hot water usage can deplete the tank’s supply, meaning one unfortunate person gets left with a cold shower. 

On the other hand, tankless water heaters merely heat up water as needed. Cold water flows over sensors which trigger the heating elements, and the internal computer circulates the water around a heat exchanger until it reaches the correct temperature. As long as your water flow to the water heater is uninterrupted, your home will have hot water indefinitely.

 

2. Energy-efficiency: Tankless water heaters reduce your carbon footprint by only using energy when needed to flash heat water. 

Compared to inefficient storage tank water heaters that drain energy heating water 24/7/365, tankless water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy-efficient, according to the experts at energy.gov.  

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) recommend choosing energy-efficient appliances to reduce energy use and earn potential utility rebates. Tankless water heaters with a Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) rating over 0.90 are certified energy-efficient by the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program.

 

3. Cost-effectiveness: Since tankless water heaters only run as needed, lower utility bills means your tankless unit saves you money over time.

According to the Department of Energy, water heating is the second largest utility expense at roughly 14-18% of your home’s utility bills. This makes sense, as tank-type water heaters are siphoning energy around the clock to heat water, even when you don’t need it. Your hot water usage occurs during only a fraction of the day, and your energy usage to heat that water should match those needs. Tankless water heaters turn on and off automatically, only using energy while you’re using hot water. Tankless water heaters may cost more up front but pay dividends in energy savings each time you need hot water.

 

4. Durability: Tankless water heaters will last up to twice as long as their tanked counterparts, with less maintenance to boot!

Tanked hot water heaters tend to last an average of 10-12 years, while their warranties tend to expire after 6 years or so. Tank-type water heaters also require periodic maintenance, otherwise they can and will fail before their anticipated lifespan. They need to be flushed of sediment annually, the anode rod requires replacement around every three years and the temperature and pressure relief valve should also be tested regularly. Lastly, in very rare cases when water heaters fail or the excess pressure cannot be released, they have been known to explode – causing dozens of gallons of hot water to flood your home.

Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, can last over 20 years, and typically have warranties that last 10 or more years. Tankless types do still require some maintenance in the form of changing filters or flushing the much smaller tank of sediment. However, the amount of mineral buildup and difficulty to remove it is significantly less, whereas tank-types accumulate sediment that calcifies and stick to the inside of the tank due to exposure to constant heat.

 

Going tankless means choosing a convenient, energy-efficient, cost-effective and durable water heater for your home. Why not convert today?

The limited time offer from Atlas Home Services:

How do I tell if it’s time for a replacement water heater?

  • No hot water – Check to see that your home and tank’s water supply is uninterrupted, and the tank’s power source is functioning (check the fuse box or gas burner unit, etc.). Try turning the unit off then back on again. If the water heating thermostat or your unit’s heating elements are not working, you will most likely require a replacement.
  • Not enough hot water – If you have limited hot water before it runs out, your heating elements are not properly doing their job. It could be because they have burned out or a layer of accumulated sediment has settled over the heat source and is displacing the water.
  • Water is rusty and/ or smells – Rusty water indicates the anode rod that usually attracts certain elements has been compromised, meaning the steel lining and inside of your tank is now corroding and rusting. If too much of the structural integrity of your tank has been damaged, replacing the anode rod will not prevent your need for a new water heater.
  • Water heater is leaking – If water is leaking out at irregular intervals, your Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve may be malfunctioning, releasing water instead of pressure as the liquid reaches its boiling point. If you notice water pooling around the unit, your tank may have a slight metal fracture, which will leak water when the metal expands as it heats up but cease leaking once it cools back down.
  • Water heater is making noise – Rumbling, banging, knocking or popping noises coming from your water heater are due to accumulated sediment that settles and hardens at the bottom of your tank as it is continually exposed to heat. The calcified minerals clog the drain valve, slow the heating process, overheating the bottom of your tank and affecting the metal integrity of your tank’s walls to the point where leaks can and do occur.

Consult Atlas Home Services to determine if you need maintenance, repairs or replacement for your current water heater. If it turns out a replacement is necessary, we recommend converting to a tankless water heater!

 

What if I don’t need a replacement now?

For the homeowners who have a perfectly functioning water heater or an issue that can be fixed with minor repairs, you may not need to replace your unit or convert to a tankless water heater at this time. If that is the case, please contact Atlas Home Services for any necessary repairs. You should also consult our blog post containing three tips to improve your water heater’s efficiency and extend its lifespan. Periodic maintenance performed by yourself or a trusted technician can delay your need for a water heater replacement.

Feel free to also take advantage of our current fall service special: a free tanked water heater flush with any plumbing service.

 

Schedule your free estimate now – call 703-789-9070 or fill out the form below:

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