For decades, tank-style water heaters were the standard in providing hot water in every home. Although different water-heating options are available, traditional water heaters are still highly-regarded. Tank-style water heaters have advantages and disadvantages, but what are they?
For over 15 years, we have installed all types of water heaters, from gas to electric and hybrid units. At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we know that conventional water heaters may not be for everyone, but they’re still reliable when providing hot water in homes across Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.
In this article, we’ll highlight each benefit and drawback of tank-style water heaters so you can more confidently decide if a traditional water heater is best for your home.
Before we do a deep dive, here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons of tank-style water heaters.
The pros of tank-style water heaters include the following:
- Consistent water pressure and flow rate
- Straightforward installation
- Budget-friendly option
- Simple maintenance
On the other hand, the cons tank-style water heaters include:
- Limited supply of hot water
- Storage spacing constraints
- Less environmentally friendly
Let’s get started on the pros first and then the cons, so you can get a clear idea and compare both sides.
What Are the Pros of Tank-Style Water Heaters?
Whether gas, electric, or oil-powered, conventional water heaters provide multiple benefits, homeowners can take advantage of.
Tank-Style Water Heaters Have Consistent Water Flow Rate
Thanks to their large storage tank, conventional water heaters have a consistent water flow rate that can provide a regular flow of hot water. This is particularly helpful in areas with low water pressure.
Household size and water usage play a massive part in determining what kind of water heater should be installed in a home. Tank-style water heaters are available in different capacities, so homeowners can feel confident that they can run their laundry, wash dishes, and take showers without a water pressure drop.
Conventional water heaters are available from 30 to over 75 gallons depending on the home. Regardless of what size you choose, the installation process is more simple than other water heating options.
Easier to Install Than Other Options
Conventional water heaters are usually easier to install than other water heaters, but it depends on the home’s layout. Most homes in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas were already designed to have a dedicated space for a traditional water heater. The installation process is almost seamless for homeowners looking to replace their old water heater with a new one.
A certified technician should complete tank-style water heater installation to avoid installation issues. These water heaters also require minimal plumbing modifications since most homes already have the setup needed for an installation.
A quick and successful installation ensures your home has running hot water without any interruptions to your daily water usage. Installation times for water heaters are minimal, and the cost for one is budget-friendly for most homeowners.
Low-Cost and Budget-Friendly
Traditional water heaters are a budget-friendly option for homeowners seeking to upgrade their current water heater system. These water heaters can cost between $3,200 to $5,900, which is less than a tankless water heater which costs between $4,500 to $8,500.
The low pricing isn’t just limited to the final costs because even maintaining a tank-style water heater is inexpensive.
Simple Maintenance Required
Maintaining a tank-style water heater is not only low cost but simple to do as well. All water heaters require routine maintenance to ensure they operate properly and avoid major issues.
Conventional water heaters require an annual flush to remove any sediment built up in the year. Sediment buildup can cause early failure and loss of water flow rate in any water heater.
With just a few tools and a bucket, a homeowner can perform the water heater flush on their own. On the other hand, it may be easier to have a technician come in and perform the flush and complete a full water heater inspection. A technician can also inspect the conditions of the different parts that make up a tank-style water heater, such as pressure relief valves and the anode rod.
What Are the Cons of Tank-Style Water Heaters?
Although tank-style water heater maintenance is simple, there are some drawbacks associated with these systems. We’ll start with one of the more known concerns with conventional water heaters, running out of hot water.
Tank-Style Water Heaters Can Run Out of Hot Water
Although every home’s hot water usage differs, it is possible to temporarily be without hot water during high water demands. Every conventional water heater comes in various capacities specifically chosen to meet that home’s water usage.
If, for example, a household was doing extra loads of laundry, running the dishwasher, and having everyone there take hot showers all day, there’s a probability of running out of hot water.
Depending on the size of the water heater, the people living in that home will have to wait 60 to 90 minutes for the water heater tank to fill up with enough hot water. The best way to avoid this is to be mindful of hot water usage throughout the day.
Tankless water heaters offer an alternative solution to this drawback by offering a home with continuous hot water. Tankless units also take up less space than a tank-style water heater. In the next section, we’ll look at how these traditional water heaters might not fit well in homes with limited storage space.
Tank-Style Water Heaters Take Up Space
Conventional water heaters take up space and require the necessary area for proper installation. These water heaters are commonly seen inside a specialized laundry closet, a dedicated room outside, or a garage.
Some homes may not have the space to hold a large tank-style water heater, so a 30-gallon water heater may be required. The smaller water heater may not be able to meet that home’s water demands, so alternative options like a tankless water heater may be necessary.
Even if you have plenty of space for a traditional water heater, you can run into another drawback: it is less energy efficient than other water heating systems.
Less Environmentally-Friendly Option
Compared to other water-heating systems, tank-style water heaters have low energy efficiency. The water heater tank’s storage constantly uses electricity or gas to maintain the water temperature at a predetermined temperature. The stored water is continuously heated, even when hot water isn’t in use.
The high energy consumption required to maintain the tank-style water heater can contribute to greenhouse gases. Although today’s conventional water heaters have improved their energy efficiency, other more energy-efficient options like tankless and hybrid water heaters exist.
Do the Pros of a Tank-Style Water Heater Outweigh the Cons?
We’ve dove deeply into the pros and cons of tank-style water heaters so you can better understand whether or not this system is suitable for you. With all the information you gained, you should be better positioned to decide if you want a tank-style water heater for your home.
Since 2007, we have mastered the ins and outs of tank-style water heaters and, in that time, have seen their advantages and disadvantages. If you have any questions regarding tank-style water heaters, contact us using our online scheduler or by clicking on one of the buttons below.
If you’re curious to see how standard water heaters compare against tankless units, check out this article to see if tank-style or tankless water heaters are right for you.
