Our nation is a thirsty one, consuming over 100,000 gallons of water per household each year. That's why it makes sense for homeowners to focus on water conservation when making home improvements. Tankless water heaters are an example of a cost-saving home upgrade that can also be used to combat water waste, and this perk is just one of the many reasons to go tankless. Whether your current model is on the fritz or you are simply interested in improving your home's energy profile, a tankless water heater is a smart addition to your list of upcoming household investments. Learn more about the advantages of going tankless to decide if this waste-reducing solution is right for your home.

Saving water goes beyond fixing faucet leaks.

DIY solutions won't address water waste
There are methods to make a water heater more efficient, but these weekend projects won't do much about the dozens of gallons of wasted water flowing down your drain on a monthly basis. The Plain Dealer pointed out that the two most popular household water heater maintenance projects, include insulating pipes or wrapping a tank in a blanket, have no impact on water waste.

One of the main reasons it's so difficult for homeowners to slow the water consumption of their plumbing system is precisely because they are using a standard water heater. The centralized reservoir tank model is inherently wasteful because of the time it takes for hot water to travel from the heater to a point-of-use. The water wasted, as a member of your family waits for hot water, also known as standby loss, adds up to significant volume throughout the year. That's why changing the way your home heats water by going tankless is such an effective solution for reducing water waste.

Standard models have increased in size and price
Tankless water heaters make plenty of sense, even if reducing waste is not your chief concern. In fact, the advantages of tankless water heaters over traditional models, especially considering the size and ease of installation, have become more apparent following recent standard changes by the Department of Energy. As of April 16, residential water heaters have been updated to be more efficient. This has also led to a base price increase and a size increase that could incur hundreds of dollars in extra costs.

These additional costs are driven by the fact that the newest generation of water heaters are a few inches taller and wider than their predecessors. You'll find yourself in a conundrum if a replacement water heater is too big to fit where your current model rests. The problem could be resolved by investing hundreds of dollars in remodeling or by simply going tankless. These compact appliances are a fraction of the size of regular heaters and can be installed near any hot water point of use.

Regions of the country are plagued by drought
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, over a third of the country is experiencing at least moderate drought. In addition to this trend, there are suspicions among plumbing professionals that the market may soon see a shortage water heaters because manufacturers are still playing catch-up in terms of meeting the DOE's new standards. You'll find that these trends don't apply to high-performance tankless water heaters.

These 99 percent thermal efficient models are so efficient that their designs remain identical.The market has plenty of options available for homeowners looking to invest in a cost-saving, waste-reducing tankless water heater. A performance lifecycle of twenty years makes going tankless a smart long-term investment as well.