Tankless water heaters do not use containers like conventional water heaters. Instead, they produce hot water on demand. They do not produce the standby power loss associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money. They generate hot water on demand, remaining unloaded when not needed. The type you choose is based on your expected usage, and your expected usage will have more to do with the cost of these units.
Conventional storage water heaters are still the most common type of home water heating system. Common fuel sources for storage water heaters include natural gas, propane, fuel oil, and electricity. Due to standby heat losses, which are caused by the tank losing heat to the environment, energy can be wasted even when a hot water tap isn’t running since water is heated in the tank until the thermostat setpoint temperature is achieved.
| Difference | Tankless water heater | Storage water heaters |
| Storage | Tankless water heaters might be a fantastic alternative for a home with little room for a water heater. They take up little room and can be very small. | Storage water heaters are a good option for big families. They keep hot water in storage so that other family members can use it later. |
| Price | Being new-age, technology-driven water heaters, they start at Rs. 4,500 and go up to 100,000 in price. | Prices range from Rs. 10,500 for a capacity of 10L to Rs. 40,000 depending on capacity. |
| Outlets | They only have one open outlet that will link to a certain tap. This is useful for homes with just one bathroom. | These water heaters are capable of supplying hot water to all bathrooms in a large home. One storage water heater’s hot water supply can be used simultaneously by many outlets. |
| Required time | The high-quality copper heating element used in the instant water heater assures that the water will heat up quickly, often in less than a minute. | When using a storage water heater, you often have to wait up to 10 minutes for the water to heat up. |
| Design aspects | It is possible to have a robust rust-free body. To prevent water leaks, the body of the water heater is made of single-weld stainless steel. Additionally, tankless water heaters offer smart shield protection, which enables you to enjoy clean, safe hot water. | Storage water heaters that are not rust resistant and do not hold a long shelf life. Despite the design elements, it needs regular maintenance. |
| Life expectancy | 20+ years | 10 to 15+ years |
| Running factors | Electric tankless heaters need electricity. However, they only turn on when the hot water tap is turned on. | It can run on multiple fuel systems depending on the heater type. |
| The upfront cost | High | Low |
Final thoughts
Your storage tank water heater shouldn’t run out of hot water if you select the appropriate capacity. However, it takes a while to heat the water stored, and once used up, it needs time to heat again. A tankless water heater could find it challenging to meet demand if you frequently run the dishwasher and washing machine simultaneously.
On the other hand, this issue can be fixed by adding additional tankless water heaters to meet your household’s needs or by putting a point-of-use type where the water is actually being utilized.
Conclusion
The size of the home affects the choice of the water heater. More house members means more tankless heaters or larger storage heaters. Tankless water heaters win in practically all categories in the competition with storage tank water heaters. The tankless water heater, however, will cost more to buy and install. Zanskar offers free on-site installation for your convenience. Last but not least, if cost is an issue, it’s a good idea to use calculators to calculate capacity requirements and energy usage to identify the break-even point for the tankless water heater’s greater initial cost compared to energy efficiency gains.