Copper heat exchangers are the tried and true core of countless tankless water heaters. But with the arrival of stainless steel heat exchangers, some homeowners are worried that copper core models may not cut it. The latter couldn’t be further from the truth, but that doesn’t mean copper heat exchangers don’t have their pros and cons.
We’ve worked with copper heat exchangers for the majority of our 15 years of experience, and we can tell you that they’ve served homeowners well for decades. There’s no denying stainless steel heat exchangers shine in areas where copper core models don’t, but the opposite is true as well.
In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons of copper heat exchangers, so you can get a better grip on which style of heat exchanger is right for your home.
Before we jump in, let’s preview the pros and cons real quick.
The pros of a copper heat exchanger include:
- Tried and true
- Price
- Variety
- Accessible
- Technician experience
Now, take a look at the cons, which include:
- Hard water resistance
- Lifespan
- Warranty
- Efficiency
- Replacement availability
Let’s break down each one step by step.
Pros
Tried and true
The tankless water heater industry is built on the backs of copper heat exchangers. For decades, these were the only option, and many iterations followed built around them, serving as the core of tankless water heaters.
Copper heat exchangers have proven to be very effective in their role. If properly maintained along with water treatment, a copper heat exchanger will serve you for years to come and reach its maximum lifespan without issue.
But there’s one major pro that many homeowners are concerned with.
Price
Price is one of the copper heat exchanger’s biggest pros. If you compare stainless steel and copper heat exchangers, you’ll notice a sizable price gap. While it may not be the biggest jump for every budget, the difference can make or break a budget.
Copper heat exchangers are about $500 to $1,000 cheaper than a stainless steel model. This is often justified by stainless steel heat exchangers having a longer lifespan and better warranty terms.
Along with the price, homeowners get another benefit that allows them to find the perfect fit for their home.
Variety
Having been around the block a time or two, copper heat exchangers boast greater variety than their newer counterparts. You’ll find a wealth of options for both indoor and outdoor use, various home sizes, and additional features.
While the stainless steel heat exchanger variety is on the rise, it’ll be some time before the newer alternative will reach its full potential. This aspect makes copper heat exchangers more appealing sheerly based on the fact that you’re more likely to get exactly what you want with a copper core model.
Variety goes hand in hand with the next pro and also makes copper heat exchangers a bit more attractive than stainless steel models.
Accessible
A big win for copper heat exchangers is their accessibility. You’ll find copper-based tankless water heaters in every type of store. From the supply houses your contractor relies on to hardware stores you can walk into and buy one yourself.
There’s no shortage of copper heat exchanger models in any corner of the market. Having been the standard for so many years, suppliers know that they aren’t going away anytime soon and stock them accordingly, giving you more on-demand variety when you need it.
But there’s one more key upside to copper heat exchangers that might come as a bit of a surprise.
Technician Experience
Since they’ve been around for decades, technicians have had years to dial in their processes with copper heat exchangers. While heat exchangers operate exactly the same, there are certain issues that are unique to each material type.
This isn’t to say that your technician doesn’t know their way around a stainless steel heat exchanger like the back of their hand, though. Instead, it’s just a matter of comfort and familiarity. Still, there’s no denying the experience that comes with years of working on copper heat exchangers.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the cons of copper heat exchangers.
Cons
Hard Water Resistance
Copper heat exchangers just aren’t as resistant to hard water as stainless steel ones. This pitfall is solely based on the integrity of the copper material. Copper is prone to corrosion, meaning hard water will wreak havoc on your tankless water heater without proper water treatment.
There’s really nothing more to it; copper is just less durable over time. Even with proper water treatment, copper can’t match stainless steel’s durability.
On top of being less durable, there’s another key issue with copper heat exchangers.
Lifespan
If it’s starting to sound like copper heat exchangers don’t last as long as stainless steel models, then you’d be correct. Copper heat exchangers have a shorter lifespan than their newer counterparts, which boast a lifespan of up to 25 years.
Instead, a copper heat exchanger can last anywhere between 12 to 20 years. While this is nothing to balk at, the corrosion issue can shorten this lifespan drastically without water treatment in areas with hard water, like Los Angeles.
The shorter lifespan also informs one other pitfall of copper heat exchangers.
Warranty
Any homeowner would be keen on protecting their investment. Unfortunately, the warranty terms on copper heat exchangers don’t match those of their stainless steel siblings. A typical copper-core tankless water heater warranty will run from 12 to 15 years.
This timeframe is a full 10 years short of the maximum 25-year warranty carried by select stainless steel models. While 12 to 15 years is seen as the average warranty term, it doesn’t always sit well with every homeowner that they could get better coverage and lifespan out of another option.
Despite having a healthy list of cons, there are just a couple more to address. Keep it up!
Efficiency
Efficiency is on the mind of many homeowners striving to make their home greener. Copper-core models aren’t inefficient by any means, but they get overshadowed by stainless steel heat exchangers, which generally have higher efficiency ratings.
In states where rebates are available, this will get in the way of nabbing the highest rebate possible. Conversely, stainless steel models often reach the maximum state refunds and federal tax credits.
One more to go, and this one is important.
Replacement Availability
If you’ve had a copper-core tankless water heater for some time now, there’s a chance you won’t be able to find a replacement heat exchanger. This issue will depend on the age of the model.
Since copper-core tankless water heaters still last a long time, it’s possible your model may have been discontinued. Age makes it difficult to repair older models, forcing homeowners to replace them instead. You’ll eventually run into this issue with any model, but the sheer number of models that have come and gone makes it more likely with a copper heat exchanger.
So, Is a Copper Heat Exchanger for You?
We’ve broken down copper heat exchangers by their pros and cons to paint you a clearer picture of what you can expect from your potential investment. With this information, you can now better weigh your options when deciding whether a copper heat exchanger tankless water heater is right for your home.
After 15 years of working with copper heat exchangers and installing them in many homes across the Los Angeles area today, we’re confident that copper heat exchangers will continue serving homeowners for years to come. While every product has its pros and cons, there’s no denying that copper heat exchangers have served well for decades.
If you’re ready for a consultation about which option is best for you, call us at (310) 853- 8690 to schedule an appointment. If you’re not the talking type, go ahead and visit our Tankless Water Heater Page to learn more about our services or book a consultation.
It’s also worth learning how much a tankless water heater costs in general and how top brands like Navien and Noritz stack up. You can also get a bit more granular by checking out the differences between popular brands Rheem and Noritz.
