The process of moving into a new home can put a huge strain on your family's free time and your finances. That's why the first home improvement you invest in after moving in should be one that helps reduce costs and performs reliably long after you decide to sell the home. One home improvement plan that fits these requirements is an upgrade to your water heater. There are plenty reasons to focus on water heating as the first place for an upgrade. These three factors easily rank among the most important motivators to not only upgrade your water heater but switch to a tankless model. Take heart of these reasons to prioritize going tankless once you've unpacked your belongings and let the dust settle in your new home.
"There are plenty of reasons to focus on water heating for energy savings."
1. Your old heater will likely be out of date
One of the main reasons to focus on upgrading your water heater is the fact that your previous water heater is likely woefully out of date. As a result, you risk wasting electricity and water as long as your aging standard water heater rests in your home's basement or utility closet. Reservoir heaters are designed to only last for about a decade, and these models suffer noticeable performance declines long before that ten years is up. Addressing this energy waste with tankless water heaters, which already perform at 99 percent thermal efficiency, is one of the key perks to making a switch.
Unlike legacy water heaters, tankless models are also compact enough to be installed nearly anywhere in the house. This proximity eliminates the amount of time spent waiting for hot water and eliminates the subsequent wasted gallons that run down the drain. It's nearly impossible to install bulky standard heaters in the same places a tankless model might fit. Going tankless after a move helps your home use water and electricity more efficiently – with one investment.
2. Going tankless allows you to avoid bigger, costlier models
You don't have to go tankless in order to replace your water heater upon move-in, but the alternative is probably a lot more expensive than you might have expected. That's because the Department of Energy's latest regulations for water heater performance kicked in on April 16, meaning that new water heaters are bulkier and more expensive than they were earlier in the year, according to the Observer-Reporter.
Furthermore, the extra size may very well force you to do a bit of remodeling if you expect to fit the hulking tank inside your home. These costs will quickly add up and increase the true cost of installation. Going tankless offers a smart alternative in that the models are efficient enough to remain unchanged by more stringent regulations and because tankless heaters are compact enough for effortless installation wherever the hot water is required.
Each new home is another opportunity to go tankless.3. The investment will pay off now and later
Tankless water heaters can help your home to start consuming water more efficiently as soon as your aging standard model is replaced. In addition, tankless models can be used as a selling point when you put your home on the market, adding value to the upgrade as a long-term investment. The National Association of Realtors noted that energy efficient upgrades like tankless water heaters are at the top of a home buyers list. Plus, high-performance tankless models work efficiently for 20 years. This extended reliability is a great point of leverage when showing your home to new buyers.