The Difference Between Gas Tankless Water Heaters vs Standard Gas Tank Style Water Heaters 

The buzz about tankless water heaters isn’t going away, but are they worth the hype? Whats the difference between gas tankless water heaters vs standard gas tank style water heaters? Let’s go over those differences and you decide. Picture this, it’s the dead of winter, in the frigid cold. A cruel storm comes through and knocks out all the power to the area. The power outage leaves you without heating and warm water. Just kidding, that doesn’t happen in Phoenix so let’s get to the gist. We all want to know if tankless gas water heaters are worth it and what the pros and cons are.  

An advantage of gas tank-style water heaters is that they can run without electrical power and continue to supply warm water even in the event of a blackout. With that kind of reliability, you may be wondering what else natural gas-powered units have to offer. You’re probably also questioning how they compare with tankless style water heaters. A battery backup system is available for tankless water heaters for an additional cost.

Though this scenario may sound far-fetched for what we generally expect out of our seasons in the Phoenix area, water heaters remain an ever-vital part of our homes. As a homeowner, we wouldn’t be able to imagine life without them. It means no hot water to wash our hands with in the winter. We wouldn’t be able to take a warm bath to close the evening or run the washing machine with hot water to clean our clothes more thoroughly. Often we, overlook water heaters, but they play a pivotal role in our daily lives. We realize their value only when we are left without them.

Gas powered tank style water heaters are not as efficient as their electrical counterpart, but it isn’t always feasible to convert to electric.  Gas powered tank style water heaters, especially when they are larger than 50 gallons can require power-venting. You need power venting to meet the EPA’s energy requirements. Power-vented water heaters can often cost more to install than their tankless counterpart. These are things you definitely want to consider as we discuss the pros and cons.  

How Gas tank style Water Heaters Function 

Traditional tank style water heaters have been a long-time staple in the plumbing world. The technology dates back to the late 1800s and became a universal  and essential part of homes. The gas tank style water heater is a very simple, tried and true system. You have a tank with a burner assembly under it. Part of this assembly includes a pilot light. The pilot stays lit all the time. There is a dip tube on the cold side inlet. This is so water actually enters the tank near the bottom of tank. The last component is the gas control valve. The gas control valve has a thermostat that senses the temperature of the water in the tank.

If the temperature is low, then the control valve sends gas to the burner which is lit by the pilot light. The control valve will continue to let the gas flow. The gas will flow until the temperature in the tank reaches the desired temperature. The water heater shuts off when the temperature is reached and the burner is shut off. The heater then sits in standby until the temperature in the tank drops again. As a side note there is a safety mechanism known as the thermocouple or a thermopile depending on the age of your water heater. This senses whether or not the pilot is lit. If the pilot is not lit then the gas control valve will not send gas to the burner. 

Pros 

• Lower upfront cost of water heater and installation for units that are 50 gallons or less.
• Availability, tank style water heaters are still the most widely available units. 
• Able to supply and reserve hot water in the event of a power outage. 

Cons 

• Shorter lifespan when compared to gas tankless water heaters (8-10 years on average). 
• Continually waste fuel heating water when water isn’t being used. 
• Size, tank style water heaters require a lot more space. 
• Not energy efficient, gas tank style water heaters have the lowest efficiency rating on the market. 

Gas Tankless Water Heaters 

When the burner ignites it heats the water that flows through it in that moment, rather than storing it. Since tankless units eliminate the need for a large tank of water, this leads to a supply of endless (not instant) hot water. There are 2 main types of gas tankless water heaters but we will break that down in another blog located here.

Pros 

• Wall mounted with significant space savings and no floor space needed. 
• Energy efficiency savings due to running only on demand. 
• Provides an endless supply of hot water within the specific unit’s GPM (gallons per minute) capabilities.  
• Longer lifespan than traditional tank units (20 years) often twice as long as a traditional tank .
• More affordable upfront cost compared to larger size gas tank style water heaters that now because of EPA requirements are power vented.
  Learn more about the pros and things to consider on our blog Gas Tankless Water heaters .

Cons 

• Requires a purchased backup battery to keep running in the case of a power outage if you are concerned with having hot water during a power outage. 
• Annual maintenance and/or good water filtration is a must to maintain peak operation.
• Water pressure fluctuations “IF” the demand for hot water exceeds the unit’s ability. The tankless unit will throttle back and slow the flow of water down to allow time to heat the water. However, properly sizing the unit will all but eliminate this potential problem. 
• A larger investment to make upfront compared to traditional units that are less than 50 gallons. 
• May require an upgrade in infrastructure to support installation, such as venting or gas lines although, manufactures have made retro fit units to take care of this in most cases.
   

What Kind of Gas Water Heater Is Right For Me? 

The question naturally arises when considering the two units. Which is the best for my residence?  That is a question that depends on the most important factor of all, you. Water heaters can be an investment. A person’s individual needs often determine what is “best,” just like with other major investments such as housing and automobiles. When researching a water heater, you should gather information ahead of time and consult a professional to determine the best fit for your home.

If you’re the type of person that would prefer to purchase something once and be done for 20 years, while enjoying the benefits of endless hot water and space savings then you’ll want to seriously consider the tankless option.  A home with existing gas connections that wishes to save space, experience significant energy savings, and have an investment that lasts, may seek to upgrade to a tankless unit.

If you know you’re moving in the next year or so, or if you’re budget is a bit tighter and it makes more sense to purchase a heater again in 10 years then a tank style water heater may be the more appropriate purchase for you. A household with a high peak water usage, living in an outage-prone area, and that does not mind having to having to replace their system sooner may lean toward a traditional tank-style unit.  

Trust Robins Plumbing for your Water Heater Needs 

If you live in the Phoenix, Glendale, or Scottsdale area and need a gas-powered water heater, trust Robins Plumbing! With over 20 years of experience in the plumbing industry, you can trust our professionals to deliver a professional consultation to see what solution fits best for your home. We also offer a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services, including: drain cleaning, water heater repair and replacement, sewer camera inspection and locating, backflow prevention, commercial and residential jetting, water treatments, and more. Visit our reviews online to see what others have to say about our local plumbing company!