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At Pink Plumbing we offer the servicing and installation of both classic tank water heater systems and modern tankless systems. When you call us to learn more about the process of replacing your water heater, we’ll break down all the possible options for your new system by considering your unique water needs, budget, energy use, and more. Whether tankless or traditional, Pink Plumbing will work with you at every step of the way to ensure your new water heater system is perfectly-suited to your home and lifestyle.
So it’s time for your water heater to be swapped out. You’ve noticed some drops in hot water quality, the age of the system is getting up there, and you’ve chatted with a trusted plumbing service to verify that it’s time for replacement.
As you prepare to schedule an install, you may find yourself researching other possible hot water heater systems that could work well in your home. While tank hot water heater systems are tried-and-true, another alternative emerges, one with significant benefits to energy, space, and capability: let’s talk tankless.
Our tankless water heater installation differs from our standard hot water heater install service.
The tankless water heater is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a water heater that doesn’t use a tank! Also known as demand water heaters, this system heats the water as it is needed: it doesn’t store hot water but instead rapidly heats cold water on demand when a hot faucet is opened.
Tankless systems can be gas or electric, using burners or heating elements much like a tank water heater does. However, lacking the bulky tank of the traditional system, these compact and efficient units are quickly becoming more commonplace in homes for their high-tech benefits. So how do they work without a tank?
The switch to tankless systems has been a quickly-growing movement among homeowners. There are many benefits to swapping out your traditional tank water heater for a tankless one.
The traditional tank-type water heater system is constantly drawing power: when hot water is not being used, it sits in the tank being warmed. A heating element is consistently being activated to ensure all the water in the tank remains at a baseline temperature. The effect of this is obvious: water heating traditionally makes up at least 20% of your utility expenses – these standby energy losses are drains on our energy grids and wallets.
Tankless heaters heat water on demand and thus do not need to be constantly running like a traditional tank-based system. They are up to 50% more efficient energy-wise, resulting in large-scale cost savings over time and significantly lower household energy use.
Without a bulky tank to account for, tankless water heaters are significantly easier to accommodate in your home. This makes them ideal for those desiring to save space or those with space limitations.
Because tankless water heaters are compact, homeowners can build a water heating system to create a balance of efficiency and access unique to their home and lifestyle. Small point-of-use tankless systems are perfect for fixtures like large sinks, hot tubs, pool showers, and more. Individuals with large houses and heavy use might be inclined to break up their water heater system across multiple tankless heaters to avoid overloading a single tank, prolonging the overall lifespan of their water heaters and saving money in the long run.
Modern tankless systems are very high-tech: from control panel displays on the front to allow easy setting changes to self-diagnostic programs that immediately alert you to malfunctions, tankless water heaters are loaded with cutting edge tools to facilitate servicing and adjustment. Many even come equipped with WiFi connectivity and can alert your mobile device to changes or malfunctions in your heating system, giving you control even if you aren’t home. For many, this peace of mind is priceless.
Tankless systems are significantly safer and less prone to destructive malfunctions when compared to traditional tank systems. Without a massive reservoir of water sitting in the tank and waiting to be used, large leaks in a tankless system are nonexistent. Even more so, the lack of a high-pressure tank means there is no more risk of explosions – a tankless system inherently makes your home safer.
Because tankless systems are exposed to water only on-demand, they are less prone to oxidation. Among other factors, this prolongs their lifespan significantly. Where a traditional tank water heater will last 10 years on average, tankless water heaters average around 20 years before replacement is needed. The cost savings on servicing and replacement over time are significant.
While tankless hot water heaters are extremely useful, there are a few drawbacks that are important to know when considering switching to a tankless system.
To protect the heater from pressure build-ups and more, tankless systems monitor the flow rate of water and shut off if that flow drops below a certain point. Excess mineral build-up, clogged faucets, and other factors in the overall plumbing system can often cause a tankless water heater to malfunction.
Without a reserve tank full of hot water, tankless systems need power to provide water heating. In a power outage, your home would therefore lose access to hot water.
The starting investment for the implementation of a tankless system can scare some homeowners away from the prospect. Tankless systems tend to be at least twice as expensive as tank water heaters and the initial installation by a specialist is more labor-intensive. However, with a longer lifespan and utility cost savings, this investment is paid for around 5-7 years into ownership, with at least a decade of life still left in the system.
For most households, overloading your system isn’t a risk if you choose an appropriately-sized and capable tankless water heater for your lifestyle. In bigger homes and high-use households however, it can often be well-worth for homeowners to invest in multiple tankless water heaters to avoid putting too much strain on a single heater, thereby increasing its lifespan.
If you’ve decided to go tankless, there are a few key considerations to have in mind while you pick out a new unit. While cost and fuel type are necessary to think about with any water heater replacement, tankless heaters have a few unique characteristics on top of the traditional factors that are worth knowing about.
The main thing is to figure out what your typical water demand is like, especially at peak hours. By estimating the water use of your various appliances in GPM (gallons per minute) you can make a close estimate of what your water heater needs to be able to produce at your peak household demand. For instance, your shower might flow at a rate of 2 GPM and your washing machine might pull 2.5 GPM. If we assume that someone might be showering while the laundry machine is running, the minimum GPM your new tankless water heater might need is 4.5 GPM. Add on someone doing the dishes and someone washing their hands in the bathroom at the same time – that tankless heater is working hard. This peak demand in your household GPM can be compared to the GPM capabilities of different tankless heaters – with that, you’ll be able to find the right water heater for you based on capability.
Ground temperature is also another important factor in choosing your tankless water heater: depending on where you’re located and the average ground temperature of this area, you will have to find a water heater that can handle the temperature difference between what you want to come out as hot and the temperature of your incoming water. This can be determined by examining the “temperature rise” of each model of water heater. In the northern hemisphere it is important to keep this factor in mind as the capability of your tankless system will have to accommodate for very cold water in the winter months.
At Pink Plumbing we work closely with our clients at every step of the process to fine-tune their new water heater system to their home and lifestyle. As a member of the FortisBC Trade Ally Network with Level 2 Navien Certifications for all of our installers, Pink Plumbing prides itself on being a team built from local, highly-specialized, and rigorously-certified technicians.
Pink Plumbing is quickly becoming the premium branded plumbing choice for the Vancouver area: with no-wait service appointments thanks to our live tech-tracking program, 2-year minimum guarantees on all work and materials, 24-hour phone and online booking services, and a company vision to ensure cleanliness, efficiency, and security at all levels of our operations, we pride ourselves on our commitment to our customers and our work.
Before departing we offer a plumbing checkup on your home at no charge. Additionally, when your system needs servicing in future Pink Plumbing clients are exempt from call-out fees – we’ll charge only for the tech’s labor.
If you prefer to go tankless, Waterline also installs and repairs tankless water heaters. More and more people are opting for tankless units in their homes because they save space, provide hot water on demand, can save on monthly bills, last longer than hot water tanks, and are more environmentally friendly.
Interested in upgrading to a tankless water heater or need maintenance, repairs, or installation done?
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