Is a tankless water heater right for my house?
Tankless can be a good fit, but I wouldn't call it an automatic upgrade for every house. I look at the available gas or electrical service, venting, line sizes, installation space and the amount of hot water the household actually uses.
What do I check before recommending tankless?
A tankless unit has to keep up with the amount of hot water the house is asking for at one time. Two showers and an appliance running together can change the size and setup you need. The existing utility setup matters too.
Sometimes the unit fits neatly where the old tank sits. Other times the gas line, electrical service, venting or drain arrangement needs more work than the homeowner expected. I would rather find that out before anyone buys equipment.
Why might I still recommend a tank?
A traditional tank can still be the most practical answer when the existing setup fits it well, the household demand is predictable and the customer wants a simpler replacement. Tankless can be a very good system, but it needs to solve the right problem.
I compare the installation requirements with what you want from the system. Then I can explain the tradeoffs in plain language instead of pushing one type of heater on every house.
Two more questions homeowners ask me
If this sounds familiar, let's talk it through.
If you're comparing tank and tankless, give me a call or text me photos of your current heater and the space around it. I can tell you what I would want to check before you make the decision.