Tank Style Water Heaters vs. Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless or Tank Style Water Heater?

Which is right for your home in West Des Moines, IA and surrounding areas, a tank-style or tankless water heater? While they both serve the same purpose, each option operates differently. Tank-style water heaters store hot water in a tank until needed, while tankless alternatives supply hot water on demand. With 78 years in the plumbing business, Holt Plumbing & Heating, Inc. installs and services both tankless and tank-style water heaters. Our experts can help you make the best decision for your needs.

Here is some information about these two types of water heaters to get started:

Tankless water heaters don’t store water, eliminating standby energy losses. By heating water only when a faucet or tap is turned on, they are more efficient than tank-style models. However, the initial investment into purchasing and installing a tankless model is higher. There’s the potential need to increase the capacity of the electrical system to accommodate the upgrade.

Water Heater Experts From Holt Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Water travels through the tankless water heater’s heat exchanger, getting heated before delivery to the home’s fixtures at the ideal temperature. There’s no waiting for water to heat up and no running out of hot water. However, when several appliances or tasks require hot water simultaneously, it may reduce efficiency.

Benefits of tankless water heaters include:

  • Space saving

    – the unit is about the size of a small briefcase, mounted on wall and allows freedom of location

  • Energy savings

    – The more efficiency operation can trim up to 70% off your water heating bills

  • Lifespan

    – Few moving parts allows for cost-effective repairs, achieving longevity between 20 to 30 years.

  • Immediate heating

    – You won’t need to wait for water to heat up

  • No risk of flooding

    – There’s no tank to rupture, flood and cause property damage

Storage water heaters are found in the majority of homes across West Des Moines, Des Moines, Clive, Urbandale, Norwalk, and Johnston, IA. The average tank capacity is approximately 50 gallons with the unit measuring 5 feet high and 2 feet across. Most models include a factory-installed insulation blanket to minimize heat loss and conserve energy. Powered by natural gas, propane or electricity, the system stores and heats water in the tank until needed. As cold water enters the tank, it’s heated to the desired temperature by a heat exchanger.

An outlet pipe located at the top of the tank delivers hot water to the faucets, showers and taps in the cold. Cold water is introduced into the tank by way of an inlet pipe found at the bottom. This continuous process ensures there’s always hot water ready in the tank but uses considerable energy.

Advantages of a tank-style water heater includes:

  • Lower startup cost

    – Both the purchase price and installation expense are considerably lower than a tankless alternative

  • Reliability

    – If there’s a power outage, a tank storage water heater can still supply hot water for several days

  • Replacement parts

    – Because of their popularity, replacement parts are easy to come by

  • Handles the demands of a large family

    – Households that require an 80+ gallon tank would require two tankless water heaters to keep up

Happy Friends & Neighbors
Through The Pipeline
"I highly recommend Holt! I needed my water heater replaced, and they came out and took the time to discuss all of my options and to make sure that I fully understood everything about the project. They did quality work, with all of the plumbing in traditional copper. That was important to me because I didn't want any of that PEX in my home! My entire basement looks cleaner and tidier because of the work they did! I was also very impressed that they didn't talk down to me as a woman. I like to do my own appliance maintenance and repairs when possible, and they respected my desire to understand everything about the installation and the prospective maintenance into the future."

Karen

"Holt heating and air conditioning installed our heating and air conditioning system and now we have the maintenance program with them. All the different people we'd have had out to do the semi annual maintenance have been courteous and professional in there attire and speaking to us. I would use them for other services in a heartbeat."

Pam

"Looking for a no fluff, no BS review of Holt? I got you... Over the past 15 years I've been a home owner, We've tried more companies that I could count. Lots of shady businesses out there... We were coming of a brand new HVAC installation just two years ago and the previous company completely botched it. It had problems within a month of installation and they were completely MIA. We ran it as long as we could to try and recoup the some cost, but it was a constant worry. Decided to give Holt a chance and we're so glad we did! Yes, they were more expensive, but it's the classic "you get what you pay for". 100% worth it! It's so hard to find a company that has the perfect mix of quality, punctuality, and honesty and Holt nails it. I genuinely appreciate their level of service and will pay a bit more to have someone I have the utmost confidence in doing the right thing. You should definitely give them a look if you need heating, cooling, or plumbing work."

Michael N.

"We had never heard of Holt Heating and Plumbing until today. We had an emergency and needed service immediately and Holt was available. Israel was our technician and he was amazing! They will have our business for years to come! Thanks Israel and Holt!"

Rhonda

"The best experience you could ever ask for. Nick is very skilled and knowledgeable about his industry. We were in a challenging situation and Holt and Nick were there to help us. Nick is very professional, extremely polite and friendly and very skilled. Thank you all so very much"

Victoria A.

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