Tankless Water Heater VS. Conventional Water Heater (PROS + CONS / COST ANALYSIS - WHICH IS BETTER?)

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Tankless Water Heater VS. Conventional Water Heater (PROS + CONS / COST ANALYSIS - WHICH IS BETTER?)
CONVENTIONAL / STANDARD / TANK WATER HEATERS:
PROS -- Cheaper for initial install, approx. $1600. Will last 8-12 years with limited maintenance (which tends to also be cheaper). Many gas units will continue to operate even when power is out.
CONS -- Will run out of hot water during heavy usage. Can take up to 45 minutes to reheat tank. Are prone to catastrophic failures, which can result in flooding damage.
TANKLESS WATER HEATERS:
PROS -- Can supply a constant stream of hot water. Units like the Navien 240-A in this video can supply three showers with hot water simultaneously. Will last up to 20+ years with routine maintenance. Have high energy ratings. Can easily be fixed by a licensed plumber thanks to diagnostic computers and replaceable parts. Are less prone to catastrophic failure. Add value to a home.
CONS -- More expensive to install, approx. $4400. Must be kept on an annual maintenance plan. Will not operate during a power outage (unless a backup water heater power supply is installed).
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
--Both units can benefit from an inline water filtration system. These units keep minerals out of the water supply before they reach the water heater. This prolongs the lifespan of both units, and improves your water quality as well.
--Tankless water heaters do have great energy ratings, and can conserve both gas and electricity, but only if homeowners do not INCREASE their water usage after installation.
Thanks for watching!
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[@garypizl5330]

One benefit of the conventional water heater is in an emergency ( like an earthquake here in Ca.) you have a 50 gallon reserve supply on water.

[@bobboscarato1313]

In California you have to be filthy rich; they have too many expensive regulations!

[@senkoswim1421]

He noted it, with the comment of when power goes out having the inlet gas line and simple pilot.

[@samuelseager6785]

This is a great point.

[@junliliu4997]

My builder grade conventional water heater is on its 22nd year, and it has seen zero maintenance. I know it's on borrowed time, still I am amazed at how reliable it is.

[@woohunter1]

I’m assuming it’s electric? They usually last a bit longer than gas.

[@bennystraw9543]

Happy thanksgiving

[@Encourageable]

That’s how old mine is to. Never flushed it. Not sure how it’s hanging on LOL

[@barbara82589]

22 years on my tank water heater (propane) only drained twice when I received free maintenance package. Magnesium rod replaced once.

[@aabsc]

@@woohunter1 Mine's gas and 27 years old, just started leaking.

[@elmeromero1794]

I bought a Rheem tankless 3 years ago. Pros are: takes less space, only uses gas when it’s being used and endless hot water. No cons yet for me. I do flush it with vinegar once a year to descale insides. But so far so good! And best thing is I bought it as an eBay open box for $350!!!! And I’m handy so I installed it myself !!!

[@michaeldautry]

Do you think there is a significant difference in gas usage vs your old tank unit? Thank you

[@elmeromero1794]

@@michaeldautry I can definitely see a difference. My old water heater was old and probably at the end of its lifespan. It would turn on constantly to keep the water at hot temperature. And i have 4 kids and my wife and after 3-4 showers we were out of hot water. So 2 people had to wait for water to heat up. It would normally take about 30 min to get warm, not hot, water. Now we can all shower without hot water ever ending.

[@MarcFun]

i need to change my water heater, my plumber says Tank water heaters are still more reliable in long run in terms of expenses, he believes High efficient tank-less water heaters have more tendency to break down and require professional fixing, In terms of initial cost tank-less cost me $600 MORE. All i care about is which one cost me less in the long run and less hassle, i have seen tank water heaters that work for 30 years and tank-less one that get into a lot of problems , I'm still thinking about it.. i can do the maintenance myself on both units. any insight?

[@elmeromero1794]

@@MarcFun I’ve had it 4 years now. And still working great. No cons or problems yet. I think the majority of people who install these don’t maintain them yearly (descaling inside with vinegar) hence why they fail on them.

[@aabsc]

@@elmeromero1794 What climate? Here in Canada in winter they can barely heat the ice cold water coming in to barely above room temperature. I was interested until I learned this.

[@lab1042]

I just had the same model of tankless water heater installed last week (Navien 240A) as seen in this video and total cost was $3200, not $4400. Also the installer (local plumbing company) told me to have it serviced every 3 years. I may bump that down to every 2 years.

[@shinebritechosen]

Be ware if you have hard water fo every year

[@daveydmur]

Can you give a rough idea of how much you're saving on your monthly gas bills?

[@everteacher]

I learned how to flush it myself. Cost about $80 to buy the pump, hoses and vinegar (have to buy this each year) takes about two hours a year.

[@WillyWanker1974]

AMAZING video. I have been looking at tankless for a while now, and this video was so descriptive and in-depth it covered everything. Thank you for putting so much effort and information into this video.

[@thihal123]

I grew up in a household in the tropics with tankless water heaters. These weren’t whole house water heaters. There were two heaters and each was in a different bathroom. We never maintained the tanks and it went fine. I think these were Siemens models.

[@Sylvan_dB]

It depends on the chemistry of your water and the performance level of the heater.

[@monteglover4133]

he primary reason I went to a tankless was space saving. Most people are at all handy can do the required maintenance tools required a small pump, some hoses,5 gallon, and some vinegar. A good water softener will greatly extend the required cleaning.

[@bizz456]

Thanks for producing this video. I have been on the struggle bus for awhile weighing this decision. This information breakdown was very helpful. Keep producing, your doing great! 😊

[@parkerhubs]

Outstanding presentation. You hit all the points and make the process simple to understand. Great job!

[@doubleclutchonline5811]

I installed a Navien tankless unit six months ago. It heats the water, and also replaced the oil burner that heated our home. It also produces enough BTU's for heated floors that I'm planning for my garage. I was able to remove the oil tank from our basement and tap into the same propane line that we use for our grill and pool heater. With the removal of the water tank, the oil burner and the oil tank, I reclaimed about 30 square feet of space in my basement. It performed great throughout the winter and is almost completely silent. This was a massive upgrade. Since our entire 40 year old heating and A/C needed to be upgraded anyway, this was well worth the incremental premium over a conventional tank system.

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

That’s awesome, DoubleClutch! 😄

[@PeterB_California]

Dude love your videos I learn something from all of them. Great channel and presentation!

[@sdkid6059]

Outstanding video. Thanks. Country guy like me who grew up with a rural well dug in the ground just outside of the house learned a lot.

[@PlumbNutz]

I'm a plumber, he is giving some incomplete and regional advice. Tankless heaters only need to be flushed when you have hard water such as well water, if your water comes from streams and springs it's likely very soft won't cause a problem. Tankless heaters are very susceptible to freezing and bursting and flooding. By code tank heaters have a pan underneath them that is drained to the outside, this is typically not required with tankless water heaters. The only savings of a tankless water heater is the heat that radiates off the tank. If the tank is inside your house that's not going to be much heat radiating off of it. Otherwise all the energy that goes into making the hot water is used by the homeowners. Tank heaters fail for the same reason as tankless,the build up of hard water deposits, if you flush your tank it can last 20 years or more

[@MarcFun]

I need to change my water heater , currently have tank . what would be more reliable and less costly in the long run ? i have two options, Rinnai thankless gas or Bradford white 40G gas. I need something that cost me less hassle, trouble and money in the long run, i live alone, don't care about anything else... I can do annual maintenance myself if necessary...

[@deeremeyer1749]

@@MarcFun You got an AC outlet for the tankless, a wall to hang it on, space to "service it" and the disposable income to "upgrade" the water lines, gas line and vent to hook up to the tankless which is not in any way, shape or form a "direct replacement" for a tank heater?

[@tryzydrate]

A pan underneath the heater is also local code and not required everywhere. Also tankless water heaters are any more susceptible to freezing than tank water heaters. All rinnai units have heat sinks that will warm tge pipes if Temps drop below freezing

[@usecommonsentz3764]

There is no code in our area for a pan under the tank. Literally no one has this pan around here and I see a lot of houses.

[@traybern]

NO ONE is STUPID enough to install a water heater OUTSIDE, DUMBBELL!!!

[@brandonblietz8555]

This is exactly the info I needed to make my decision. I trust The Honest Carpenter and I did a Google Search for Tank vs Tankless water heater comparison, not expecting to find him in the results. After watching the Video I am convinced for me a new larger tank water heater is the right move for us. I was leaning toward tankless prior to the Video. Annual maintainence contracts costs plus an overall cost benefit analysis rooted out what was best for me. Thanks Honest Carpenter.

[@xDRZLx]

One benefit I didn't hear you mention was the tankless heater takes up less space.

[@OneManParade]

They take up space in your wallet. Because of installation and maintenance cost.

[@dtom1145]

Less space? Most are in the basement or attic. If you need a couple more square feet in your life then it is time to move!

[@hempcacaogoji831]

Barely, and the air intake/outtake on some of them take up a lot of space.

[@Cujo5]

@@dtom1145 If you're in a 2 bedroom apartment or something, it would make a difference. I have a tank under the kitchen sink. It takes up so much room and has very little water. I've often thought of getting a tankless water heater solely to conserve space and be able to have longer showers.

[@johnhunt9674]

@@OneManParade that's a lie.

[@lynnwuytowicz2737]

Great!! Exceptionally well done!! Concise and informative! Helped me make my decision hands down!! Sticking with a tank!! We have occasional power outages, so can't imagine being without hot water just cause the power is out!! Along with the annual maintenance thing...Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[@danalaniz7314]

Excellent video. Wraps up the information really well. Thanks!

[@nancyh9030]

Our conventional electric water heater was installed in the attic. Yikes, what were they thinking!. We were able to put in a tankless water heater directly below it in a closet. It's so nice to no longer worry about the water heater failing. We had the propane company install the gas line but we installed the water heater ourselves. It vents out the roof so it did involve both plumbing and cutting a hole in the roof to install. I definitely wish that there had been apple-to-apple comparisons of gas or electric bills that I could find when we were trying to decide what to do. The water heater is so expensive on its own that financially it probably wasn't worth it but for peace of mind it can't be beat. Flushing the tank isn't hard to do so actually seems easier to me than flushing the sediment out of a conventional one.

[@stephan9487]

Wow. This was such a phenomenal video. Thanks a lot for it.

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

I appreciate the honesty. For me it is the bottom line - cost. Looks like I'll be putting another conventional in when it's that time.

[@mail4asim]

installation cost is not this high, I would check with a few plumbers locally.

[@throngcleaver]

I installed my Eco 27 myself. It was easier than swapping out the 40 gallon tank, and cost about the same. I bought it about a year ago, and it was around $400. However, I also bought a valve kit for $60, and three, 40 amp, double pole, (240VAC) breakers, plus 100 feet of 8 AWG wire and some plastic conduit and conduit clamps and elbows. Also, I bought the Sharkbite fittings for the copper tubing, and those are worth every dime. So, the price came out to be about even with just replacing the tank type heater for my installation.

[@TabbyCat041]

Ditto the other comments. I found a Jacuzzi tankless (made by tankless leader Rinnai) on sale @ Lowe's for $800. Did the install myself, and the yearly maintenance is easy with washer hoses, a bucket and submersible pump. My total purchase and install was about 1,300. The endless hot water is great, along with the space savings.

[@robertlevy4613]

I watched like 5 of these videos and this one was the best - another great Honest Carpenter video, and amazing that you gave EcoPlumbers a shoutout.

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Thank you, Robert!

[@ronmack1767]

Enjoyed the video Ethan. That was interesting. Our gas supplier is always trying to get us to switch to a tankless. Y'all take care, stay well and God bless.

[@UniAmericaFinancial]

Great video. Simple and easy to follow. Thanks a lot. I found it very educational.

[@michaelhill2618]

Dont forget that tankless water heaters require increased gas supplies so you must ensure that the gas piping coming into your house must provide sufficient gas. You could add another couple of thousand dollars reworking your internal gas piping.

[@steveloux4709]

noteworthy point, although I would push back on suggesting a certain cost for the upgrade. My gas line only needed to be extended 15 feet from the meter, and I did it myself. The cost was very nominal. If the water heater is considerable distance from the meter, then yes, it's going to be a big effort. The same might be said for the domestic water pipes, if they are galvanized they must be replaced, and if the tank and tankless locations are not the same, then there might be considerable reconfiguration to provide to serve the new location.

[@tyjameson7404]

Great information👍🏼🙌🏼👌👏 I was in the middle of doing my research on both for a future replacement on one of my rental properties. Thanks again 👍🏼✅your information is high quality 👏

[@philp7358]

Initially I thought this was going to be biased pro-tankless, but kept watching and you fairly covered most all aspects. The biggies in my mind: tankless and modern/high-tech require maint or risk expensive repairs -- say circuit board! Tanks have been made same way for many decades and are low tech -- if ever needed repairs are cheap (no circuit boards). I'm glad you pointed out "endless hot water" often means big increase in usage (teenagers in shower!!). In a power outage a tank will let you still have a full tank of hot water to carefully use for a while. Yes insulation in tanks is pretty good and you can nurse it for 1-2 DAYS. Also tank units rarely fail "catastrophically" .. owner notes puddle on floor / at tank and calls plumber, not Poseidon adventure release. 1 big plus for tankless is smaller footprint if you have limited space in mechanical room. Your cost comparison (1600 v 4400) was very honest unlike many tankless proponents. As someone pointed out, if $15/month savings (take into account annual 250 maint) it will take 16 years to make up price difference. BTW the 1928 house I moved into last year has a gas 40 gallon tank mfg 1997 and going strong with zero maintenance in those 23 years. Buy a tankless to feel-good, brag to your neighbors and to use more hot water, not to save money! You make good enjoyable videos .. keep it up!

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Thank you, Phil! All valid points. That conventional heater seems to be immortal! 😆

[@mikelivesay5639]

You did a great job spelling it out the difference between both water heaters

[@cejkwo100]

I've had a tankless for 5 years now. Love it had it descaled only once. Works fine

[@ageofanomaly3874]

What brand and model?

[@cejkwo100]

Navies

[@cejkwo100]

Navien

[@muddstephen0]

Please flush your tankless once a year. I understand it hasn't had issues but it will.

[@edover50]

Well thought out and informative video Ethan. Own conventional at the house and a first generation tankless at the lake. It’s perfect based on utilization or as you said “effectiveness” when nobodies there in the winter no need heating water, and when the family and friends bombard the lake it handles endless showers in the morning. If you decide to do a follow up on this subject I would like to see some discussion on how we operate hot water as Americans vs Europeans. It’s my experience most tankless owners crank the temp up past recommended levels. Europeans only use the hot side when showering and keep the tank at that perfect shower temp...why we insist on boiling hot only to mix it with cold water to find our perfect temp makes no sense at all.....

[@scotth6814]

Yeah, the only time I want scalding hot water is for cleaning dishes.

[@marshallferron]

@@scotth6814 You can have a small secondary electric tankless heater installed at the kitchen sink for that. Also provides hot water for tea

[@bigtime37ja]

Excellent video assessment if the two.

[@RawPatrol]

Australia has had Instant Gas (tankless) hot water systems in common, if not majority, usage since at least the 70's. They used to have a pilot light, now its all electronic ignition. Max price is about $1000 USD No one I know ever gets them serviced and they seem to last for years. Not sure why the are so expensive in the US.

[@pinterelectric]

I was always curious about the notion that tank heaters are “constantly “ running to maintain the tank temp, even while you are sleeping. This was brought on because I have shut off the burner and went on vacation for two weeks( pilot light on) , and still had hot water enough to get a shower when we got home. So I monitored the flue temperature with a WiFi tracking temperature probe and I can tell you, during normal days, the burner only comes on if water is being drawn out. And most times, like a hand wash, it burns for a couple minutes tops.

[@reneluna5340]

Good info , thanks brother !!

[@njsongwriter]

Yes. We once had a water heater that was always just on the pilot light which would make hot water overnight without the burner. Take your showers in the morning...

[@aabsc]

My tank is at a place I can easily hear the fire start/stop and I don't think I ever heard it start without me taking hot water for a while first.

[@Toastmaster_5000]

New tanks hardly lose any heat over the course of multiple days. I can attest that old ones lose heat rather rapidly though.

[@traybern]

If you do NOT use any water for two weeks of COURSE the PILOT will keep the water HOT. DITTO for someone who lives alone and only needs one shower a day!!!!

[@drkennedy611]

I have had a titan tankless heater for over 10 years, no problems. I only have changed the filter 3 time s. They cost about $2 at Walmart only maintenance I have done

[@MrNotes61]

Question what was initial cost?!

[@dr.scientist3481]

Thanks again! This guy rocks!

[@josephchiodo7122]

Thanks. Good, solid, unbiased information.

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Thank you, Joseph! 🙂

[@RiskyR1CH]

Great video, very clear and to the point info.

[@liaodesign]

Great video good break down of pro and cons. Thank you!

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

Tankless is still affected by hard water . It's interesting what people owning electrical or natural gas tank heaters could learn if they knew how to change out electric elements and flush out electrical and gas heaters with $2 bucks of 1 gallon distilled vinegar for 12 hours . I have an electrical water heater going on it's 8 th year after flushing and changing heating elements every 12 months = $ 22 bucks for elements . Way cool video from a man I trust . Thanks

[@ericapallaron3379]

I've had my conventional HWH for 20 years, but my electric bill is really showing that this needs replacing immediately.

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

@@ericapallaron3379 You've gotten a lot of service from that water heater and if you are using the original heating elements , it's kinda miraculous and you must have the best water around . Have a great weekend Erica .

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Oh man I moved into a home where the conventional water heater was so old it almost fell through the floor. & I had Hell getting rid of it. I'm definitely taking time when I buy a new Water Heater. Thanks for the information so I can make a more informed decision. 👷🏿‍♂️

[@ChiefRangerSmokey]

Great video. Helped me make my mind up on what I need.

[@taylorbinns8770]

Great video! Wish The ecoplumbers were on the east coast!

[@timvandyke8165]

My house has a Gas Furnace, conventional gas water heater, and a Gas Stove top. During the summer my gas bill using only the water heater and stove top, runs about $30 a month. So even if I could cut that in half, I would only save $15 a month. That would take me 15 years to recoup the savings of goimg with a conventional unot over the tankless. Then you add the maintenance cost. I can replace my conventional unit twice as much and still come out ahead. So unless you have a large family and the need for a lot of hot water, I would go conventional.

[@keytothegate68]

You can have a small tankless water heater dedicated to heating a designated outlet, like an outside shower ,or a bathroom that's far away from your water heater so it takes a long time for hot water to reach it in the winter months etc..

[@Tinyteacher1111]

@@keytothegate68 I didn’t know that. I have a hot tub and you’re supposed to shower before getting in. It’s cold!!

[@ElleDubsDubs]

There are currently tax benefits for a tankless water heater, at least until the end of this year.

[@davidfuller764]

@@Tinyteacher1111 it’s true! I used 1 once, very impressed. Simple, “clicker” ignition=no electric hookup, cheap $200? W/Propane tank, just need water source, good for outside shower 🤓

[@whistlebloer8254]

I agree with you. Conventional natural gas water heater costs very little to run. It is not cost effective to replace your existing with tankless. There's a reason why they offer you rebates to install tankless.

[@suketushah3949]

Fantastic video. Covered everything

[@dorknutz]

Good video, does a good job showing advantages and disadvantages to both options. I will say this, from the recent freeze in Texas, a lot of people I know had their tankless water heater burst. We are on gas and still had hot water and could run the stove even when the power went out. That’s a big deal. Don’t put all your energy eggs in one basket...

[@traybern]

Those TOO STUPID to TURN OFF their water supply when the power goes out…..DESERVE to have to buy a whole new system!!!

[@davidparker9676]

Also, a tank type water heater is an excellent emergency water storage container that can give you 30-80 gallons of potable water. I have seen several tankless heaters rupture, I'm in Southern California if that tells you anything.

[@traybern]

@@davidparker9676 Um…SO would a few large JUGS of water. WITHOUT having to use FUEL 24x7 to keep it hot. Thus WASTING A HUGE amount of resources!!

[@davidparker9676]

@@traybern A tank type heater doesn't use fuel 24/7, it runs as needed to maintain a set temperature. The better insulated the tank, the longer it can sit without the burner cycling on. A 34,000 btuh tank type heater is not that expensive to run. A 200,000 btuh tankless unit uses a ton of gas while it is running. The fumes from these tankless units give off deadly levels of carbon monoxide. Many of the tankless conversions are installed wrong and pose a serious threat to the residents. Each one has pros and cons, for me tankless has too many cons.

[@traybern]

@@davidparker9676 You DOPE!! KEEPING ALL that water HOT 24x7 is GODDAM NUTS!!! It WASTES over 90% of the fuel!!!!

[@ut4646]

Great info!!!

[@gw8111]

Excellent and informative video. Thank you!

[@flix4u]

Of course the $4400 used as an example is for a unit that can handle a large house. There are many units available for smaller dwellings that start in the hundreds of dollars. Tiny homes & mobile homes now rely on this technology exclusively. Thanks for the breakdown - it’s appreciated. I’m tankful (pun) 4 ur info.

[@1985Satisfaction]

Depending on the area that's not true. I install them in 3 bed 2 bath homes for 5k all day.

[@bladesbybev]

So informative. Great video!

[@astroboy862]

We just purchased a 3 yr old home with a tankless water heater but we never knew the difference and pros and cons...now I do..plan to have someone come in annually and take a look at it to see if all is good...thanks for this very informative video...

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

Thank you for watching, Sal!

[@robertthompson5699]

I've had my Navien for ten years now and let me tell you about the problems I had from day one. First, when you figure the cost of the unit, the maintenance of the unit and the headaches regarding the repairs, their was no savings for me. Second, from day one of my Navien installation, their were problems. It just kept kicking out when trying to start. So the installer put a new unit in, same size and it still kicked out. I found out later that alot of people were having problems with this model of Navien, so the sales rep recommended the better model of Navien units and it started working, but during all this time the sales rep and others involved in this kept saying my gas line was too small for the distance I ran it, it being a one inch propane gasline. And to prove them wrong, the main Propane professional in our area came in and did his propane test and found that my gasline was fine and keep in mind that this propane person teaches all about propane for the area proving the Navien rep and others wrong. So my Navien worked fine after the better unit was installed until winter. The unit then started kicking out again when the temp got around 32 or lower degrees and the infloor heat was running. The installer came out several times, but could not figure out the problem and finally told me to leave the front cover off the Navien unit when the infloor heat was running which I thought was a dangerous thing to do. Some thought it was the exhaust run that was too long, but it was only around 25 feet long with 3" PVC, and installation showed you could go up to 100 feet. So for ten year now my Navien unit has continued to kick out every winter when the temp got down to 32 degrees or lower and now the heat exchanger is leaking and Navien supplied my installer with a new heat exchanger which was just installed, but would never ignite now. My installer worked on this unit trying to get it to ignite for two days of talking with tech support and replacing the igniter, etc he finally gave up and told me I need a new unit. So do I recommend buying a Navien? No way.

[@gabrieladibala6888]

Thanks for the information. I live in a very small house and have a tankless water heater and it’s more expensive to use it than a dryer. I had the electric company come out and it’s used 50.6 energy.

[@joejr9653]

If you go tankless also make sure your gas meter is big enough to handle it. If your meter is small and you have a lot of gas appliances already, if you add the 199,000 btu tankless, some things will be starved when it's running.

[@hankkline7300]

If you already have a large electric service to your house, you may not have to increase it for an electric model. Be sure you have a lot of spare capacity available, you will need it.

[@gomezjuarez2588]

Thank you for the video…..I’m learning a lot

[@user-vu6pb2hm7v]

Good presentation. I made my decision based on your advise. Great job!!!

[@joeutube356]

Great information, very well explained.

[@TwinBytesInc]

Very well explained. Thank you.

[@Shahrdad]

Excellent video! My old fashioned water heater is on its 22nd year, without ever having had any maintenance. I'm replacing it soon as a cautionary measure, but I've been very happy with it. And one of my work partners has a water heater that was installed in 1986 and still kicking without any problems. I think tankless is wonderful technology, but people should realize that whatever they save in gas bills, they will have to pay (and probably even more) for annual maintenance. And it won't work during a power outage. Also, they require a tremendous input of BTUs, which will require extra gas plumbing work or even a new gas meter and pressure reducer. I think they're great for households with lots of people taking simultaneous showers or fill large bathtubs. For most of us with basements where flooding isn't an issue, a conventional water heater will suffice and probably be cheaper in the long run.

[@wattheheck6010]

I did not know about annual maintenance requirement. I'll be checking on that tomorrow. Thanks!

[@tharenlowery8171]

This was a great guide!!

[@MikeColeVocals]

Thanks for this comparison. I’ve been considering a tankless heater as my kids are getting older and we are getting close to the years where 3 people will be showering in the mornings. Seems like a tankless system would be a good choice for us !

[@superrealtyadmin5693]

I am so glad I did not go with Tankless. So I can still take hot shower during the 2 days blackout by the winter storm and so many tankless water heaters were useless and many were damaged during this winter storm.

[@alohajenn]

Kinda the same idea as a Paloma, which is basically the same as on demand hot water heater, except it's propane not electric. I've had one since the 90s & works great!

[@kevinb6123]

You can also get a combo unit that heats your home and your hot water. I just had a Lochinvar Noble installed and love it. It’s a very reliable unit unlike the Navien you showed.

[@brianmartin1139]

Good video. Our last gas water heater lasted 18 years and I only flushed it once or twice. We have horrible water in AZ too. When it went, it leaked into the house though i would love to see a video on replacing the anode rod.

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

I’ll see what we can do about the anode rod video, Brian!

[@flywithabel]

Funny... EcoPlumbers is literally in my house installing a tankless unit and this video popped up in my recommendations.

[@TheHonestCarpenter]

The magic of the internet, Abel. 😆 They’re a great company, I’d gladly team up with them again!

[@ridgec5670]

So you have used it for a couple months now, how do you like it?

[@flywithabel]

@@ridgec5670 absolutely love it. Temp controls work well. I lower the temp to 98 to add water into my aquarium. I can directly tap the water off the heater. Hot water takes approximately 45 sec to reach the top floor from basement. Not bad if you brush before the shower! Overall great product and ecoplumbers were great in the installation process.

[@MrCarburettor]

I had a tankless unit in my old 3 story town home. It takes forever to get hot water on top floor and must waste a lot of cold water waiting for hot water to come up. We start to using a bucket to keep cold water and use it for flushing. I really couldn't feel any efficiency or savings from tankless units. On the other hand annual maintenance is only flushing the unit and replace filters. Super easy DIY job can be done with inexpensive tools. Another positive side of tankless units are smaller if you install garages with limited space

[@johnvega9092]

Great work explaining , u make my day

[@johnvega9092]

I would go with the tankless heater ,

[@markbaker5366]

Thank you for the video

[@MichaelLPena]

Very high level summary with no real numbers. Only numbers quoted was installed costs. TOH (This Old House) actually went through the costs in a table to show people the real costs, trade offs, and savings … where possible.

[@josephconsuegra6420]

I have tankless and it works great. The heater cost $250 and install labor was $300. This heater fully delivers hot water to 2 showers and kitchen.

[@jrm2383]

I think you left out some zeros

[@josephconsuegra6420]

@@jrm2383 no zeros left out. That’s what I payed.

[@duradim1]

Your cost results will not be typical. OOPS! I have to retrack what I just said. I did some quick research and found some cheap ones. Maybe not good enough for the northern states, but apparently good for Florida. Thanks for pointing it out fellows.

[@josephconsuegra6420]

@@duradim1 Actually they are in South Florida. Purchased at Home Depot.

[@duradim1]

@@josephconsuegra6420 I stand corrected. Thank you.

[@MarcusCapeCanaveral]

High upfront cost plus annual maintenance plan, versus very low cost and easy do-it-yourself maintenance. Our current tank is 23 years old and I just replaced the elements, a very simple quick job, a couple years ago. I didn't even drain the tank to swap the elements. And it's in the garage, so any leaks will run out to the driveway.

[@dwarden3]

I have two inline tank heaters. One is a preheater from 50ish temp to 110 degrees. The second is set at 140 degrees. It has cut my gas bill by 30%. Another is the preheater collects 95% of the scale. Also when I do have to replace the preheater I just remove it out of the line and use the 2nd until I can replace it. I also have a booster pump after the second so there is no pressure loss. Altogether the entire set up was a little over 1000 bucks.

[@marilynm8812]

Thanks for the subject matter. I have to check how old my hot water heater is and if I need a check or replacement of the rod. Never drained it before either.

[@reneluna5340]

In case you haven’t replaced the anode rod in the water heater, you can buy one at Amazon for $28 it’s flexible so who ever installs it doesn’t have to disconnect and tilt the heater, just ordered one today for a old water heater

[@Sunshine22232]

Thank you 🙏

[@misterh3]

nice video, informative

[@robertshaw4022]

If it costs $4,400....find a different plumber.

[@jakefromstatefarm9391]

well it requires a city permit to install so yeah it really can cost that much, take inconsideration a independent gas line may need to be ran for the tankless unit and if you are converting to a tankless then you most lightly need to run new venting for the unit as well.

[@jimwampler6210]

completely agree - My unit was 900 directly from the gas company and 750 installation. I would walk away at 4400.

[@jsketchbud9641]

@@jakefromstatefarm9391 permits are around 100 you can remodel a bathroom for 4000

[@jakefromstatefarm9391]

@@jsketchbud9641 Permits vary in different areas.

[@stans5270]

Too much depends on variables. The units alone can be anywhere from $300 to $2000. Add other factors as changing gas pipes or electrical circuits, $4,400 is in the ballpark of the higher units.

[@cl88888]

Thanks for the video! For a 2-story house... I currently have 2 conventional water heaters: 1 in the attic to serve 2nd floor and 1 in the garage to serve 1st floor. Would you recommend converting these 2 water heaters setup to just 1 with 1 tankless water heater in the garage? Would the volume be a problem (low) in the 2nd floor? TIA

[@johnbipper7056]

Tankless are junk !. Another attempt at making a better mouse trap. One good thing is they require constant maintenance and it keeps me working. On demand doesn't mean instant, the parts are expensive and some manufacturers void warranty if you don't flush them 4 times a year. Bosch for example, has constant issues with air flow sensors and some won't run if your LP level goes below 40%. I've taken out two in the last year that were only a few years old but the customers were tired of the constant malfunctions and went back to the standard water heater. The technology and designs constantly change and the learning curve for technicians can be overwhelming, thank God for tech support. The standard tank water heaters last over 20 years, easy to fix by almost anyone, has two elements and thermostats, that's it !. For the cost of an on demand I can buy 6 tank heaters. The most any customer told me their electric bill lowered was around 6 dollars a month. Its hot water, your not reinventing the wheel, stay with cheap and simple and you can't go wrong.

[@klovvin]

good video, more info than most

[@johnrichards3666]

Excellent

[@spellerlittlewing]

Great video great to know stuff

[@danielparrish5438]

I have a Smith brand tank water heater that I have never done any maintenance what ever ...... it is now 17 years old and still working

[@tatajohnnyrosado2427]

Same over here mine is 23 years old you still going strong

[@njsongwriter]

The one in our last house was still working after 20 years when we sold the house. Never did anything to it. It was on a community well that was not chlorinated.

[@murphthegreat]

I have a Navien tankless going on 8 years now. If you have treated softened municipal water, you can easily maintain this yourself. It’s all about how hard your water is, but doing a vinegar recirculating flush is very very easy, every time I do it I re-use the vinegar elsewhere as it comes out so clean. I do it every 2-3 years but if you have hard water I can see how yearly would be important! Or more if you’re on a well system. Nonetheless, a 5 gallon bucket, a small sump pump, a couple hoses, and 2 gallons of white distilled vinegar is all you need. Maybe a pair of channel lock pliers as well.

[@vincentwesolowski459]

I agree with a lot of your assessment of both water heaters, yeah, here it comes, although the tankless water hearted is by far more efficient in fuel consumption, the initial cost of the heater plus your yearly maintenance costs make owning a tankless heater rather expensive. I thought of buying one even with the initial cost being high, until I looked at the cost of the equipment and the supplies needed to service one. You teach how to tackle carpentry problems, it isn’t that difficult to install a tankless water heater and a traditional hot water heater is a breeze. You just have to replace them when their warranty is up and not wait for them to fail. Take care and stay healthy.

[@andriyshapovalov8886]

You just need to replace the sacrificial anode in traditional one and it will last for 30+ years.

[@BillyWheeler]

I wish you would've got on the difference between gas and electric for cost efficiency

[@todddunn945]

@Curt Clark if you don't have gas and you want tankless, electric is the only way to go unless you want to pay to install propane. You do need an adequate electric service for your home or you will have to upgrade your service (new panel, etc. = $$$$).

[@specialestness]

@@todddunn945 I was flabbergasted when I saw the one I was looking at took up to 150 amps.

[@todddunn945]

@@specialestness the electric demand heaters do have a big amp draw. Back when I lived in the Pacific Northwest the house system could have handled it, but here in Maine we only have a 100 amp service, so I went with a propane on demand system. I also have a water softener so my system doesn't need to be flushed very often. I flushed it after 4 years and got almost nothing out.

[@michaelkaye4998]

Nice presentation. You didn’t mention cost of annual tankless maintenance?

[@llcgull]

thanx for lots of good info. i'm interested in tankless bcs i want more utility room space & a neater looking looking utility room to use it as a morning kitchen

[@Doug-gp2qw]

I replaced my 50 gallon gas water heater in 2005. I've drained it a couple of times in the last 18 years. It recently started taking longer to heat water. I will replace it in a couple of weeks. Its easy to swap in a new unit, including new expansion tank and water connections. It will cost me under $1,000 total. A new tankless with all the venting and gas line changes would cost me at least double, if I have it professionally installed it will be more than triple the cost. Add in the cost for annual maintenance over the next 18 years and the tankless will be 5 to 10 times the cost of the conventional water heater.

[@pattysherwood7091]

Oh no! I’ve lived in this house 15 years and have never learned about the hot water tank. I thought maybe I should get a new one since it seems to be leaking corrosion or rust out of its side. Thank you.

[@WanderlustWonderscape]

You spelled catastrophes right, but then blew it on effectiveness (6:47). You still get a thumbs up for a great video.

[@zzing]

This felt like an add for tankless water heaters. I feel that there were many aspects not mentioned like the various types tank water heaters like electric and heat exchanger types.

[@Gleadogg]

Whech one?

[@emssmiley2002]

Yep nothing about the re-circulation pumps either

[@sergeykazantsev1]

Yes, and the guy calls himself "honest".

[@georgesimpson3113]

You totally missed hybrid (heat pump) water heaters. I get really cheap hot water, my basement gets dehumidified, and cooled.

[@bobboscarato1313]

I used to have an add-on heat pump water heater installed in my garage; problem was a small 25 cent ceramic bushing will break after a year and you couldn't find the little part! When it was working my garage was nice and cool winter or summer!

[@warmgulfwind]

Judging by the apartments I’ve lived in and the real estate ads that I read so often, most people have one bath/shower in their home. So the issue for us less wealthy folks is not that several showers are happening at once, it’s that several showers are taken in a row in the same bathroom leaving the last person uncertain that they will get a hot/warm shower. Hopefully one day I will look at the costs for either option and think that at least one is not very expensive.

[@boma2484]

Tankless also use a high current amp draw during initial startup. Prone to nuisance breaker tripping unless you got plenty of extra amp space in your panel. I won't install one unless the customer has a 200 amp electrical panel

[@susanmeredith4957]

Love my tankless heater! I just have it serviced along with furnace. My installer recommended service every 2 yrs. Just had it done. Filters had hardly anything in them. Next service will be descaling.

[@eposada100]

Does it make noise?

[@MarcFun]

How much it cost every year to maintain it?

[@susanmeredith4957]

@@MarcFun the man who installed (family company, he also owns it) says every 2 yrs for routine maintenance . We like ours, have a daughter at home who. Outdoor drain a hot water tank in one shower!

[@bobboscarato1313]

Orbis gas tankless water heaters never required any maintenance and we used them only when the heating unit boiler was shut down. During warm weather we used the space heater!

[@amitapt]

this is really good and honest representation..Just Like EVs are more efficient , tankless are more similarly efficient.

[@4x4Moses]

My 40-gallon electric water heater has been in operation for over 18 years. The only "maintenance" was replacing a heating element (which I did, myself). Given that I have acidic well water, I'm not going to sleep well until I replace my unit!

[@reneluna5340]

Take care of that water heater, the ones made now only last about 4 years, I own rental property and I have to replace them constantly, I remember them lasting 15 years not anymore !!

[@sheisstacy631]

Great Video! My tankless water heater stayed on for the entire night roughly about 12 hrs due to someone forgetting to turn it of. Will I be charged for the 12 hours it was left on or for the usage time? I look your response. Thanks much

[@joshuapluim]

I'd like to know what the regular maintenance is for a tankless water heater. Several components of conventional water heater maintenance was discussed in the video, but not what specifics are required for tankless. I feel like I still don'e have enough information to make a decision...

[@sergeykazantsev1]

Don't even touch this crap, live peacefully with your mind: stay with tank. I'm gonna go back to tank pretty soon, sick of money wasting for constant repair and maintenance for last 10 years. And for the cold sandwich in my kitchen sink I have to install a small tank anyway.

[@iam2ndIIno1]

I've had much different experience than Sergey. This is my 3rd tankless (1 electric, 2 gas). You can google "tankless flush" and maybe include the model. I perform this task once a year. I just hate a big tank of water constantly boiling and when I may have company there's little hot 🔥 water 💦 available. Matt Risinger does good videos on maintenance.

[@jamesg973]

I have a tankless and the maintenance is easy. A little up front to get everything but after that very cheap. All you have to do is descale the lines and as ACE says google will tell you. I asked my brother and dad since they had one for many years and both used apple vinegar. No harmful chemicals in you water lines.

[@JediOfTheRepublic]

@@iam2ndIIno1 If your Hot Water Tank is boiling your water, then it's too hot lol

[@dixieboy5689]

Im staying with my conventional water heater .... for lots more years. Better value in the long run. Ive lived with both types systems. Thanks