A Few Benefits of Navien Tankless Hot Water Heaters
When it’s time to replace your hot water heater, you owe it to yourself to consider investing in a Navien tankless water heater as an alternative to another traditional tank-style heater. Navien has been manufacturing premium quality tankless water heaters since 2006, and they’re one of the fastest-growing manufacturers in the industry. Navien tankless water heaters feature advanced engineering and state-of-the-art design to ensure top performance for the life of the unit. Here’s a look at just a few of the benefits that you’ll enjoy when you invest in a Navien tankless hot water heater for your home.
Tankless vs. Traditional Water Heaters
You might be tempted to delay replacing an older hot water heater until it goes completely out of commission, but that can often be a false economy. Even a well-built heater begins to become less energy-efficient over time and will predictably begin to have service issues. Your standard tank-style hot water heater has a life expectancy of eight to 12 years, but a well-maintained water heater might function for several years past its anticipated operational lifespan.
If you’re currently experiencing any of these issues, it’s probably time to replace your water heater:
- Inconsistent temperatures
- Running out of hot water quickly
- Sudden increases in utility bills
- Rusty or discolored water
- Grinding sounds from the tank
A traditional water heater stores 40 or 50 gallons of water and keeps it heated around the clock. It keeps hot water ready for any time that you or anyone in your family takes a shower or when you run your dishwasher, and it was the only option for homeowners for generations. That all changed when tankless water heaters became practical for home use a few decades ago. The technology has been around since 1929, but engineers finally determined how to make it practical and affordable for the convenience of homeowners in the 1990s.
Tankless hot water heaters continue to grow in popularity for many good reasons. Known as instantaneous, continuous flow or on-demand hot water heaters, they heat the water for use as soon as you need it. Cold water passes through a heat exchanger each time that you turn on the hot water, and you can take a shower as long as you want without ever running out!
Increased Energy Efficiency
One of the biggest drawbacks of a traditional tank-style hot water heater is that you’re paying to keep the water heated at all times. You might shut off your heater for a few days if you go on a vacation, but that only makes a negligible difference in your utility bills. On the other hand, a tankless hot water heater only runs when you need it. You’ll have as much hot water as you need, and you won’t be wasting money to keep water hot around the clock.
Longer Lifespan
A tankless hot water heater is a little more expensive than a standard hot water heater, but it has almost double the life expectancy. If you install a new tankless hot water heater today, you can enjoy reliable service for up to 20 years.
Unlimited Hot Water
A tankless hot water heater heats water for as long as necessary using a heat exchanger and other components. You’ll never have to worry about the tank running empty because no water is stored. If you have a large family and everyone likes to take really long showers, you’ll love the convenience that a Navien tankless water heater has to offer.
Less Space Needed
A tankless hot water heater isn’t nearly as large as a traditional water heater with a large tank, so you will have much more flexibility when it comes to installation. If you’re building a new home, you won’t have to design a space to house a large tank. If you’re remodeling, taking out your traditional hot water heater can free up some valuable space in your home, and you might even be able to find a creative new location for your hot water heater to make your ambitious new design plans possible.
Fewer Safety Hazards
Traditional hot water heaters have a good safety record, but an older heater can begin to overheat. In some cases, excessive rust and oxidation can lead to more severe issues such as leaks. If you wait for your hot water heater to go completely out of commission before you replace it, you’re asking for trouble when you least expect it. Navien tankless water heaters don’t store water, so the risk of a flooded basement is greatly reduced. They also have a host of next-generation safety features so that you and your family can have the peace of mind that comes from having a well-built and highly reliable water heater in your home.
Is a Tankless Heater Right for Your Home?
If your household hot water heater is more than 10 years old, it’s probably time to start preparing for an upgrade because any appliance will predictably decline in efficiency as it approaches the end of its operational lifespan. It’s always inconvenient to replace a large home appliance, but it will be far more inconvenient if you delay in replacing an older hot water heater until it completely fails. There are a few things to keep in mind before you make your final decision.
For starters, a tankless water heater is more expensive than a traditional model. The money is well-spent if you and your family intend to stay in your home for a long time. On the other hand, if you’re planning on moving in a few years, you might not be in the home long enough to enjoy the long-term energy benefits of a Navien tankless water heater. However, it might slightly increase the resale value of your property.
If you have a large family, you might need to make a few modest lifestyle changes after you buy a tankless water heater. The heater delivers unlimited hot water on demand, but it might struggle if multiple family members are showering at the same time. You might also want to wait until everyone has taken a shower before you run your dishwasher or your washing machine. If you have a larger home or a multi-story home, you might need to install multiple tankless heaters to avoid lengthy delays as the water travels from the heater to your faucets.
Summit Heating & Cooling offers top-quality HVAC and plumbing services in North Kansas City, Missouri, Overland Park, Kansas and throughout the Greater Kansas City area. We’re proud to carry the full line of Navien tankless water heaters, and we’ll help you find the perfect model for your home. Our NATE-certified technicians all share our passion for legendary customer service. We also offer commercial and residential HVAC installation, repair and maintenance as well as indoor air quality solutions and air duct cleaning. Contact Summit Heating & Cooling today for more information and to schedule a free, no-obligation estimate for a new Navien tankless water heater.
