Tankless Water Heaters are Hot
This post is in partnership with EcoSmart, all opinions are my own.
Let’s chat about the systems that help run our homes. The not-so-pretty and often confusing choices we make result in either years of satisfaction or regret. Five years ago, I let our contractor make the important water heater selection, and have spent the last year regretting that choice.
The decision to go tankless is something worth considering with the biggest benefit being a reduction in home energy usage. According to the US Energy Department, homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, tankless water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. The initial cost of the unit is higher than a standard water heater, but the lower operating and energy costs result in an overall savings over time.
We live in Florida where the temperatures are high and the water mineral content even higher. In our area, most home systems run on electricity, and energy efficiency is an important factor to consider because the a/c runs most of the year. When our tankless system began to fail, it resulted in lukewarm showers/baths and intermittent hot water at the kitchen sink. A decision had to be made, and it would be on me to decide which product was best for our family. I’m no exception when it comes to preferring shopping for home accessories over home solutions, but it was time to stop procrastinating.
It only took one visit from a licensed plumber to learn our system was not only of lower quality, but was also installed incorrectly and destined to fail. The system failure was accelerated by the high mineral content in our water which corroded the heat exchange. The plumber highly recommended EcoSmart as well as Installing a filtration system and flush valves to extend the life of a new system. Nonetheless, I got a second licensed plumber’s opinion who agreed.
Researching tankless systems is like any other research project. You ask professionals, speak with friends, and then do a deep dive on Google. The EcoSmart name came up several times. I never shopped by price since the inconvenience of replacing a system is far more expensive than getting it right the first time. When I decided on the EcoSmart brand I was pleasantly surprised to learn this system was not only highly recommended but also extremely affordable. Tankless water systems require annual maintenance and hard water needs to be filtered. Professional installation from a licensed plumber with experience installing tankless systems is the best way to guarantee success.
We’ve had the system installed and so far, so great! The new tankless heater is running far better than the old heater ran on its best day. The water comes out so hot that we’ve had to adjust the mixing valves to find our new preferred temperature setting for showers and baths (not complaining). Our water pressure has improved because we’re able to use our fauces as they’re intended in full mixing mode.
There’s a lot of misinformation regarding tankless water heaters online. As best I can tell, most of the complaints result from improper installation and/or omitting a filtration system. These systems require annual maintenance and an upfront investment. Proper installation and maintenance will optimize their energy efficiency. If you’re considering replacing your hot water tank, you could start your research here. If you’re not ready to commit to a brand new system, you may want to look into a water heater booster designed to work with a tank. Now that our water heater issues are behind us, I can resume my hunt for the perfect grasscloth wallpaper.
Everyone’s noticed the improvement with my husband, chief dishwasher, commenting that the kitchen sink temperature is now perfect for doing dishes. Thank you, EcoSmart, for Keeping the human dishwasher happy.
