Benefits of a conventional water heater

In the frigid Canadian winter, our water heaters are more than just a saving grace. They are a much needed comfort and are on the list of things we absolutely cannot do without. Because water heaters are so important to us, investing in a good one is important and any negligence to this investment might only burn a further hole in our pockets.

That is why; it is good to know what type of water heater to go for. With tank-less water heaters becoming a world wide rage, a lot of people are making some uninformed decisions based on media reviews. While tank-less water heaters undoubtedly have immense benefits, our traditional heaters are not completely useless. In fact, they do have some benefits you may want to consider before you make the switch.

What are traditional Heaters and how do they work?

Our good old-school water heaters are the ones we are most familiar with. What they do is they take the cold water that comes to our homes and store it in a huge tank. Using your electric supply, the water is then heated in most cases. If not by electricity, the water is heated using natural gas, propane, solar power or heat pumps.   When the water in the tank cools down, the fuel kicks in and heats up the water again. Then when you switch on your shower or your dishwater, faucet, washing machine, your water remains hot and ready for you to use.

With the boom of newer technology, less people opt for this method of heating than in the past decade. But here’s a look at some of the benefits of a conventional heater.

·         Lower up-front costs

·         Installation is easy

·         Easy to replace

·         Can be installed anywhere in a home

·         Works well with re-circulating systems

·         May not use electricity to function

·         Uses from a wide range of fuels

These benefits are in comparison to tank-less water heaters. In the debate of which one is better, most researchers have found no clear winner. Tank-less water heaters are more sleek as they can be placed anywhere in the house or even hung on a wall. However, it comes at a higher up-front cost.

They are also prone to freeze damage if the installation isn't properly carried out. Another problem that went into installation with tank-less water heaters is that some people had to have larger fuel lines for it to function efficiently. But tank-less water heater do have an endless supply of hot water.

The pros and cons of both are easy to see. Based on your needs and preferences, you may decide to switch over to a tank-less water heater or stick with the good old traditional water heater.

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