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Tankless Water Heaters

November 16, 2018 by SterlingCraft

Is a Tankless Water Heater Right for Me?

Tankless heaters burn like a fire breathing dragon.

The answer isn’t a simple one. In the right situations a tankless water heater is an unbeatable way to give you more hot water than you ever imagined. For others it can simply be a really expensive way to save a little money on your utility bills. Many tankless options have significant drawbacks and it is important to be fully aware of them before you make any decisions. If you want to know if a tankless water heater is a good fit for your household, read on, and if you still have questions give us a call.

THE GOOD

My family loves having a tankless water heater. I have two young girls and as they become teenagers we will all be grateful for the endless hot water they provide. Some of the issues described below have been mitigated by advances in the technology but models which do not benefit from them can still be a concern. 

EFFICIENCY/SAVINGS

Tankless water heaters are extremely efficient. They save money by only turning on when you call for hot water. I think of them like a fire breathing dragon that can instantaneously heat the water to your designated temperature. As the water passes through the dragon’s mouth it can be raised by 50°F or more. They use almost seven times the amount of gas that a tank style water heater does when they are running. The savings comes from the fact that they only run when called upon. A traditional tank water heater keeps the water hot in the anticipation that you might need it. So when you don’t use it for 10 hours, and the water cools down, it goes ahead and fires up to keep that water hot and at the ready. This is why tankless water heaters can save on energy costs. A Consumer Reports test found that tankless water heaters were 22 percent more energy efficient, on average, than their gas-fired storage-tank counterparts. That translates into a savings of around $70 to $80 per year, based on 2008 national energy costs. Efficiency doesn’t really equate to saving any money with tankless water heaters because they cost so much more on the front end. You might lower your carbon footprint, but you aren’t really netting any significant monetary savings over the life of the unit.

ENDLESS HOT WATER

They really do give you endless hot water, and it is the strongest case that can be made for switching to a tankless water heater. If you have three teenage girls, or maybe just one teenage boy who likes someone else’s teenage daughter, you might think these are the greatest plumbing innovation since running water. You can wash a load of clothes, run the dishwasher, fill your garden tub full of steaming hot water, and still enjoy a 60 minute shower. After all that, your spouse can come in and take their own 60 minute shower if they want. Because you have a pet dragon at your disposal the water will remain hot as long as you have gas and water to flowing to it. If you are always running out of hot water a tankless water heater is a great option.

SAVE SPACE

Installs can be compact and very clean when done properly.

 

Tankless water heaters are small so they require very little space. Tank type water heaters take up a lot of room. Some builders hide them in an upstairs closet, or worse; in the attic. If someone tries to tell you it is a good idea to put 50+ gallons of hot water above your head, don’t believe them. The attic is a terrible place for a water heater! It saves floor space, but invites disaster. More typically you will find them in a garage or basement. No matter where you put a tank style water heater, it is going to take up space that you might be able to put to better use. A tankless water heater is about the size of the pillow you lay your head on every night. They can be located in a basement, closet, or even outdoors on the side of your house. It is not coincidence that many of the best manufacturers are based in Japan where space is limited.

THE NOT SO GOOD

INSTANT??

They give you instant hot water! Well kind of yes, but probably no. This is tricky, because expectation falls short of the reality. Many people hear “instant hot water” and think this means a tankless water heater will give them hot water at the tap immediately after turning it on. This is simply false. There are ways to get instant hot water in the real sense, but a tankless water heater is not how you get it. For that you need a recirculation system, and we can tell you all about those in another post. The term “instant” applies in the respect mentioned above under efficiency. They take cold water and “instantly” turn it into hot water. This is important to understand when evaluating if a tankless water heater is going to do what you expect it to.

COLD WATER SANDWICH

They taste as about as good as they sound. If you like to conserve, and shut the water off and on as you shower, you might experience the dreaded cold water sandwich. This is when your nice hot water suddenly goes cold for a moment and then goes right back to steaming hot. It happens because of the way tankless water heaters operate. When you turn on the hot water, cold water begins to run through the tankless water heater. It detects the flow of water using a flow sensor, figures out how much water you’re asking for, ignites the fire in its belly and heats it with just the right amount of gas, and all is well. However, when you first turn it on, that initial stream of water, the water it uses to detect what you want from it, isn’t hot. If it is humming along it will give you hot water all day long, but as soon as you shut the faucet off, the dragon goes to sleep. When you turn it back on it fires up again, but that shot of cold water still comes through. Repeatedly turning the hot water on and off will create these little pockets of cold water and you will hate your plumber forever if he hadn’t warned you about this phenomenon.

The cold water sandwich can be eliminated in a few different ways. Some newer models offer a small buffer tank built in. This prevents the cold water blip since it hits a small reservoir already filled with hot water. These tanks also offer a simple recirculating system option. Learning some new habits can avoid the issue, and a good plumber can create a system that will avoid it altogether.

LOW FLOW FAUCET WOES

How a tankless water heater works

Many people consider a tankless water heater because they are concerned about conservation. Some of the newer low flow faucet fixtures will only allow enough water to trigger the flow sensor when they are turned on all the way. If you just want a trickle of hot water, a tankless water heater may not even notice that you are asking for it. This can be a pretty big problem. There are ways to use the water that can eliminate this issue, such as turning the water on full blast and turning it down once the water heater is on and flowing. Not everyone finds this adjustment acceptable and it should be noted when evaluating a tankless water heater as an option.

COST

Tankless water heaters are expensive, and their installation cost can add thousands to the final investment. This is one of the largest barriers to making the switch. With standard tank style heaters costing less than a third of a tankless replacement, it just isn’t in everyone’s budget. Because you have to feed the dragon, the existing gas pipe is rarely large enough to carry the proper amount of fuel. In some cases the gas meter has to be upgraded in order to deliver the gas required. Many issues and error codes associated with tankless units are the result of an insufficient gas supply. Tankless heaters are often installed in a new location which requires moving the hot and cold water lines as well. Tankless water heaters use stainless steel or PVC piping for venting depending on the models and they must be installed properly.  Because a tankless water heater conversion involves so many upgrades or alterations to your existing plumbing, they really aren’t a do-it-yourself project.

ELECTRIC OR GAS?

Currently gas and propane are the only energy sources that can offer a true replacement to a traditional tank style water heater. Electric units can not meet the demand for hot water in typical households. The average electrical service for a home does not have enough capacity to run an electric tankless unit on par with gas and propane units. We simply do not recommend any electric tankless water heaters for primary residences. 

STILL WANT A TANKLESS WATER HEATER?

Tankless water heater models vary greatly and picking one that can deliver enough water to multiple things at the same time is crucial. Some models will only let you run a couple of fixtures, like a dishwasher and shower simultaneously. A properly sized unit will let you run everything in your house in almost any combination at the same time without issue. The level of knowledge required to choose and install the right unit is usually best left to a professional plumber and we are always ready to help. If you would like a free consultation to see if you are a good candidate for a tankless water heater installation give us a call. We would love an opportunity to share our knowledge and see if one is right for you.

Had a stubborn clog in the toilet that we just couldn't get rid of on our own and had to call in the professionals. After reading previous reviews we decided to go with Sterling Craft Plumbing since they were pretty close to home. The sweet lady in dispatch was able to get us an appointment within hours of me calling and then the guys showed up, explained everything they were going to do and got our issue fixed in just a few short minutes. Everyone was super nice and the price was reasonable considering how quickly they got it scheduled and resolved for us. We will definitely be using them again and will recommend to friends and family!
Heather Dantzler
16:45 25 Feb 21
We've been using Sterling Craft Plumbing for several years. They do excellent work, are always professional and helpful. We highly recommend them.
Jill Burnett
18:15 19 Feb 21
Sterling Craft is always prompt, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. I trust their expertise and integrity completely.
Heide Woodworth
19:51 17 Feb 21
Shortly after I purchased my home, the plumbing began to crumble. My entire house needed to new drains and water lines. It took me a while to save for the job. They honored their quote, which was given to me months earlier. I did get several quotes from others and Sterling had the best price for the job. They are honest, efficient and did an excellent job. It was a pleasure to work with Amanda. She was so understanding in such a stressful situation. I would definitely ask them to come back for repairs and remodeling of my bathroom.
sherri Simoni
12:59 09 Feb 21
They were fast, friendly and affordable!
Brent H
22:25 11 Jan 21
Highly recommend!!. Called Sterling Craft and Plumbing and was able to get someone here the next day. Diagnosed and repaired my toilet. Needed additional parts for an outdoor faucet and scheduled this for the next day. The nice surprise was being told I did not need to pay until all the work was done. Nick Bridges, the Lead Plumber was very knowledgeable and polite. Someone in my household is immune system compromised and Sterling Craft and Plumbing/Nick accommodated by wearing mask and engaged in social distancing. Very much appreciated!
Brad Taggart
15:03 17 Dec 20
I highly recommend Sterling Craft Plumbing & Bath for any bathroom remodel you have in mind. Ms. Amanda is very easy to work with and tries to help in any way she can to make your bathroom remodel a success. We used them to remodel both of our bathrooms and are very satisfied with the outcome. Our master bathroom now has a beautiful tiled walk-in shower. The crew of Caleb and Sam did the majority of the work on both bathrooms and they take extreme pride in the way that they do their work. We cannot say enough good things about these two as they worked really hard and kept us informed as to what they were doing the entire time until completion of our remodel. We would not hesitate to use this company again for any plumbing or remodel projects in the future.
Pauline Blood
20:58 15 Dec 20
I highly recommend Sterling Craft Plumbing & Bath for any bathroom remodel you have in mind. Ms. Amanda is very easy to work with and tries to help in any way she can to make your bathroom remodel a success. We used them to remodel both of our bathrooms and are very satisfied with the outcome. Our master bathroom now has a beautiful tiled walk-in shower. The crew of Caleb and Sam did the majority of the work on both bathrooms and they take extreme pride in the way that they do their work. We cannot say enough good things about these two as they worked really hard and kept us informed as to what they were doing the entire time until completion of our remodel. We would not hesitate to use this company again for any plumbing or remodel projects in the future.
Pauline Blood
02:13 23 Nov 20
I love working with this company. Amanda ALWAYS keeps you up up-to-date. They always come on time. Their prices are very fair. Their workmanship and clean-up are great.
Judith Mamroth
13:33 29 Sep 20
I highly recommend Sterling Craft Plumbing & Bath for all of your plumbing needs. I notified Ms. Amanda first thing in the morning on a Monday that we had been without hot water since Saturday morning. She sent a crew out and before the end of the day, we had a new hot water heater installed. They helped us remove our old unit out of the crawl space under our house and relocated our new hot water heater into our garage. Their crew are very professional and very knowledgeable about their work. They will be my first choice whenever I need any plumbing work done.
Pauline Blood
17:51 15 Sep 20
Very happy with the work done. He was efficient, professional and polite. He came yesterday and everything is working beautifully today. I will definitely call them next time I need a plumber!
Kay McDonald
11:29 20 Aug 20
Wow! Great communication, professional people, and reasonably priced service. I will definitely be using Sterling Craft for future projects.
Christopher Sizer
12:02 23 Jul 20
Great experience. Professional service, customer care, and results. Very reasonable pricing. I will definitely use this business again and recommend them to others.
Ed Medlin
18:50 21 Jul 20
First time customer. Nick and Caleb arrived promptly within scheduled time and with advance telephone notice of arrival. Reviewed my requirements, suggested alternatives, made our chosen repair/replace option at a fair price. We now have a new plumber relationship for the long term.
Peter Netherton
19:37 30 Apr 20
I can not sing their praises enough!! Caleb and the other 2 men that helped with our shower Reno were punctual, professional and most importantly respectful and I (being a single mom with 2 kids) never felt uncomfortable with them here. Half the time I forgot they were upstairs! They got the job done in a timely manner and my shower looks fantastic!
Brittany Pieklo
19:31 09 Apr 20
Sterling Craft Plumbing has done many jobs for me in the last couple of years. They have all been jobs that cost between $1000 and $2000. They have always done an excellent job.I got several quotes from other companies for the last job and they were right in line with other quotes.I strongly recommend their work and will continue to call them when needed and will always recommend them to others.
Barbara Dorsey
14:07 03 Apr 20
I used Sterling Craft Plumbing for the first time today and am glad I chose them. I had a leak under the kitchen sink where a pipe had corroded. I called and spoke to Amanda and she said Nick would be on the way as soon as he finished up another job. She even called me back to tell me when Nick was actually on the way. Nick D. was polite, professional and knowledgeable. The pricing was extremely reasonable. Highly recommended!!
G K
15:13 27 Feb 20
This is my 2nd experience with Sterling Craft Plumbing & Bath. Both experiences were great. First experience was me needing a bathroom facet replaced. Second one dealt with a kitchen sink drain leak in the wall. Their prices and quality of work are both great. They are now my go to for any plumbing issue I may have in the future.
Garrie Morris
22:34 26 Feb 20
Nick, Lead Plumber with Sterling installed a new bathroom sink and faucet for us and we are very pleased with his work. I purchased the wrong size supply lines and Nick took time to stop and go get the correct size without an additional charge. Installation charges were reasonable and we highly recommend Sterling and Nick for any plumbing work.
J. R. Ellis
15:43 20 Jan 20
Showed up when they said they would. Did what they sais3they would do. Charged what they quoted. A refreshing experience. Will be my go to plumber.
Lisa Marshall
01:59 12 Jan 20
Shane and Amanda gave us a very detailed estimate. The estimate was a step by step plan of the work they would be doing and how much each step would cost. We received 2 other estimates from other contractors, they quoted us 3 times as much and did not include a detailed description of the work to be done or explain how they arrived at the grand total. The estimated quote was the exact amount we paid. They performed a great job on our bathroom, it doesn't even seem like the same room. We will call them back for any other work we need!
Angela Varner
05:22 11 Dec 19
Very professional and pricing is reasonable. Nick and Matt were great! Nick fixed the piping problem we had underneath the sink. And also troubleshooted our water heater which was acting up. Will recommend to others and use them again if we have any problems.
Lynna Lotrakul
11:10 03 Dec 19
I was closing on a house and needed immediate service. Sterling Craft had someone come by that day and give me an estimate and out there the next morning to complete the work. Not only was the service exceptional, once he started working on the issue it was resolved for a great deal less cost than I had originally planned for. I appreciate the honesty of their service and the help with lining up the sheet rock repair that was quick and well done. Thank You, Kim Trott
Kimberly Trott
22:31 30 Oct 19
Called Sterling Plumbing today for the first time since we are selling our house and needed to get a repair done asap. He showed up within a couple of hours, at the appointed time, looked at the problem with bathroom water pressure, and told us if we replaced the faucet (something we can do ourselves), it would fix the issue. Then he didn't even charge us for his time and recommedation! How's that for service! Would confidently use him again. Thanks for the integrity and punctuality.
CM and JK
00:16 23 Oct 19
I was at Home Depot looking for something to block a water pipe under the house. The H.D guy really didn't know what to recommend. Along came Shane so I asked if he was a plumber. Then I hit him up for advice on what to use.He could have said he didn't know, but he didn't. He let me call my husband to get a better description of pipe . Then he went and picked out some options for me. He reviewed a few ways to handle the pipe and was just do friendly and helpful. Also, he said to call him if we needed more help. I booked marked the website right then. This will be the company I call when I need more plumbing help. He showed me he was a businessman not out to just make money but to gain customers trust.Shannon
Shannon Marsinelli
17:54 09 Sep 19
My experience with Sterling Craft Plumbing has been exceptional in every way. They arrive on time, the quality of the work is excellent. They are very knowledgeable about all plumbing issues and know how to install or repair things in the most professional way. They make sure the problem has been adequately addressed before leaving. They are also very personable and easy to communicate with. I’ve lived in my house for 30 years and have had quite a few plumbers in that time and Sterling Craft Plumbers are by far the best.
Nancy Mandlove
18:29 05 Sep 19
I reached out to SCP&B on a Friday before labor day weekend and they showed up at my house at 8am the following Tuesday. All I needed was a quote to install/replace our aging water heater. They quoted and installed the same day. Very professional and will definitely use again in the future for my plumbing needs.
Todd
16:58 03 Sep 19
I cannot say more about how pleased I am with my Sterling Craft experience! Our plumbing issue was dealt with using minimal cost solutions first and ultimately we have saved. SC came recommended to us by a local business owner and the first time we used them years ago, their employee assessed our issue and was honest about the lack of a need for his work in this instance. We had him change out a connector to upgrade it, but appreciated his honesty then and how much that saved us. Today, our servicer was fast, efficient, and dealt well with our child being very interested in his work. He checked on issues outside of the service call issue itself and really helped us to understand the work he did. I love these guys!
Jessica Johnson
20:31 28 Aug 19
I highly recommend Sterling Craft Plumbing. They did a great job installing a new water heater for me. I certainly will call them again for any plumbing needs in the future. Thank you Matt and Nick for doing great . I appreciate you both.
casey
22:55 15 Aug 19
Sterling Craft Plumbing is by far the best plumbing company I have used in thirty years. Fair pricing, strong customer service, quality work and integrity set them apart! I am extremely pleased with all aspects of the service I received. I will most certainly utilize them again and highly recommend them. Scott
Scott Moody
00:17 29 Jul 19
Great team! Honest and trustworthy. Always willing to help with your projects.
Greg Barnes
15:12 21 Jul 19
Sterling Craft Plumbers are the best! They've been our go to plumbers for the past 4 years. Shane and team are honest, reliable and their work is outstanding. We can always count on them. It's nice knowing that there are still companies that provide excellent customer service and at an honest rate without solely focusing on how much money they can get from you. Thank you Shane and Amanda!!
Jen Lewis
18:55 11 Jul 19
Wonderful company! Professional, friendly and extremely helpful! I will most definitely call them again! Thank you so much!
Jennifer Allen
23:45 25 Jun 19
I used Sterling Craft twice in the last month. Both times they were quick to respond, professional and reasonable. I won't hesitate to call them again when I have a plumbing job.
Jim Schmidt
02:18 25 May 19
Guys came out and were able to diagnose and fix the problem right away. Service was great and professional. Would absolutely use them again.
William Roberson
20:30 10 May 19
Sterling was awesome when we needed to have the shower replaced in our master bath. They were professional and great to work with. We will absolutely be calling them again for future plumbing needs!
Jessica Burke
23:48 23 Apr 19
Shane and Amanda were tremendously helpful in our experience with them. They place emphasis on making the customer satisfied and will try to give you the best available option at the most affordable price. Will continue to use their service in the future!
Amar Bhatti
15:53 18 Apr 19
Amanda and Shane were excellent! They were extremely responsive, timely and reasonable in their recommendations. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing quality work in their home or business.
Edward MacMillan
19:02 17 Apr 19
The crew at Sterling Craft did a great job with our bathroom renovation.All installation work including the laying of the floor was carried out very professionally and cleanly.The works were done on a timely basis, the final amount corresponded exactly to the budgeted offer.The Sterling Craft team located in Spartanburg, SC was also very supportive and helped us quickly and easily in a few things related to this project.In any case, we will use Shane and his team again in future plumbing projects.M.E.
Martin Endert
13:01 12 Mar 19
Sterling Craft has the absolute best customer service. Amanda made us feel like we were a priority and had her husband, Shane at our house within 10 minutes. Shane was very informative and very helpful! I will recommend over & over!
Hannah Barber
14:26 22 Feb 19
Nick and Shane have both done work at my house, they have always arrived when they said they would if not sooner. Professional and very personable. Very knowledgeable and reasonable pricing. Great company to work with
Steve Stewart
19:15 20 Feb 19
Sterling Craft is dependable and reasonable. It is refreshing to find a business that is so well run and who believe the customer comes first. I highly recommend this local company!
Beth Wolfe
19:21 04 Dec 18
Thank you for reliable, accurate service on our broken hot water heater. We are very pleased. Betty K
Betty Koester
18:51 27 Nov 18
Shane was an absolute pleasure to deal with! Thank you for the great attention to details. We are glad we called!
Marina Isaac
15:33 20 Nov 18
Very professional and pricing is reasonable. Nick and Matt were great! Nick fixed the piping problem we had underneath the sink. And also troubleshooted our water heater which was acting up. Will recommend to others and use them again if we have their problems.
Lynna Lotrakul
15:27 08 Nov 18
Nick and John were great. Service was quick. Everything was explained and quoted before any work was done. Definitely using them again and recommending them to friends.
Ms Malia k
16:43 05 Sep 18
Prompt, courteous, professional. Replaced pressure regulator valve. Upgraded installation.
Ross Goff
13:02 27 Aug 18
Sterling Craft Plumbing are excellent for all your plumbing needs! Fast, friendly service with a smile. We found them a few years ago through a Google search & liked how close they were to our place. Service was on time and gave a fair and knowledgeable quote. We have used them for ery job big or small. And have recommended them to friends and family, who have also used them. It's doesn't get any better than Sterling Craft Plumbing!
Jason Orick
11:50 01 Jun 18
Arrived on time. Very professional Did a great job installing my stove. I will recommend him, and if I need a plumber again will choose him!
Fern Scharff
01:00 28 Oct 17
Arrived on time. Very professional Did a great job installing my stove. I will recommend him, and if I need a plumber again will choose him!
Fern Scharff
11:56 26 Oct 17
Sterling Craft Plumbing made my dream bathroom come true, no exaggeration! I had the absolute most positive experience with them. Shane's estimate was literally thousands of dollars less than the other I received, and he stuck to it even though the job ended up taking a bit more time than he had anticipated. The company that gave me the other estimate actually recommended Shane over themselves! He knew he wouldn't be able to beat Sterling Craft's price for the work that needed to be done, and he had worked with Shane and vouched highly for his attention to detail. Shane and Nick were able to do the majority of the work in 2 days, leaving some small portions undone to make it easier for me to do the rest of remodeling work, then came back later once enough was completed so that they could finish. At every step of the process, they did quality, professional work, were respectful and cleaned up after themselves, and went above and beyond in helping me. Not only did they do a great job, Shane was nice enough to share his knowledge with me and answered my masses of questions about every aspect of remodeling, not just plumbing. As a first-timer, this was invaluable and helped me be successful. If I ever need any plumbing work done in the future, they will be the only ones I call! They do more than plumbing as well, so I may just have them remodel my whole kitchen for me as well! I highly recommend them to anyone considering having some remodeling or plumbing that needs done.
Alan Gardinsky
01:40 21 Oct 17
Sterling Craft Plumbing made my dream bathroom come true, no exaggeration! I had the absolute most positive experience with them. Shane's estimate was literally thousands of dollars less than the other I received, and he stuck to it even though the job ended up taking a bit more time than he had anticipated. The company that gave me the other estimate actually recommended Shane over themselves! He knew he wouldn't be able to beat Sterling Craft's price for the work that needed to be done, and he had worked with Shane and vouched highly for his attention to detail. Shane and Nick were able to do the majority of the work in 2 days, leaving some small portions undone to make it easier for me to do the rest of remodeling work, then came back later once enough was completed so that they could finish. At every step of the process, they did quality, professional work, were respectful and cleaned up after themselves, and went above and beyond in helping me. Not only did they do a great job, Shane was nice enough to share his knowledge with me and answered my masses of questions about every aspect of remodeling, not just plumbing. As a first-timer, this was invaluable and helped me be successful. If I ever need any plumbing work done in the future, they will be the only ones I call! They do more than plumbing as well, so I may just have them remodel my whole kitchen for me as well! I highly recommend them to anyone considering having some remodeling or plumbing that needs done.
Alan Gardinsky
16:06 20 Oct 17
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