The Modern Plumber

Pros and Cons - Tankless Water Heaters

1/20/2025

Today, we would like to review some pros and cons of tankless water heaters. Marketed as "Endless Hot Water," it's an easy sell to customers who have experienced a cold shower. Unfortunately, tankless water heaters are often sold to customers without informing them about the possible additional costs and complications they might encounter.

Pros:

Endless Hot Water - No one likes a cold shower. Families who experience a consistent lack of hot water during crucial times, such as showering, would enjoy the endless hot water that a tankless water heater provides.
Space Saving - Tankless water heaters are wall-hung and take up significantly less space than standard tank-type heaters. Some are also available for exterior, outdoor-rated installations.
Options - Tankless water heaters come in options of Electric, Natural Gas, or LP - Propane.

Cons:

Endless Hot Water? - Why is it both a Pro and a Con? If sized correctly, tankless water heaters can work great. However, as professionals, we often see customers (and other plumbing contractors) undersize tankless units. They are not a one-size-fits-all solution for homes and require specific information for demand and sizing. How many bathrooms are there? Are there any high-flow fixtures like tub fillers for a freestanding or garden tub? Undersizing units often leads customers back to their original problem: cold showers.
Cost of Unit - Tankless water heaters cost approximately 2 to 2.5 times more for the unit itself (not including installation) compared to a traditional tank-type heater. Yes, you can find them cheaper, but as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Keep this in mind when considering options and avoid purchasing off-brand units from Amazon or eBay.
Cost of Installation - Every installation cost can vary depending on the location of your existing water heater. Relocating the unit outdoors will result in running new water or gas lines. The plumbing is often the least costly part of the installation. Hiring an electrician can be the most costly aspect, as described in the next bullet point.
Electrical Cost - Electric tankless heaters can give homeowners a run for their money. Tankless heaters have a much larger electrical draw than standard tank-type water heaters, which requires significant electrical modifications for larger wiring and sometimes up to 2 to 3 breakers. A typical tankless water heater draws between 40 and 120 amps, depending on the model and its heating capacity, with most requiring a dedicated circuit and a breaker sized accordingly; for reference, a standard electric water heater usually uses around 18.8 amps at 240 volts. If your existing breaker box doesn't have additional breakers for expansion, you might have to upgrade or replace your whole breaker box.
Maintenance Cost - Tankless water heaters must be flushed annually per manufacturers' requirements. If done by a professional, this would cost you $150 - $200 annually. This is something to strongly consider versus a traditional tank-type heater.
High Maintenance - As described above, you should flush your tankless heater annually. Tankless heaters have small diameter piping that doesn't work well with poor-quality water. Water minerals and calcium can reduce the longevity and effectiveness of the unit. It's highly suggested to have a Water Conditioning and Filtration System when using a tankless water heater (which is another significant cost if you don't currently have one).
Repairs and Reliability - In comparison to a tank-type water heater, the technology in a tankless heater makes repairs much more complicated. An electric tank-type water heater has approximately six replaceable parts (2 elements, 2 thermostats, an anode rod, and a T&P valve). All these items are stocked by plumbers as well as hardware stores, resulting in quick and inexpensive repairs. Tankless technology includes items like flow sensors and circuit boards that require lengthy diagnosis times and much longer times to order and receive parts. This can leave customers without hot water for extended periods and with much larger plumbing invoices.

We hope you find this information helpful when considering a tankless water heater! We always like to make our customers aware of the possible complications they may face when making important financial decisions for their home. In our experience, tankless water heaters work best in gas applications when sized and designed during new construction. The technology of tankless water heaters improves each year, but when it comes to replacing your tank-type water heater, I always recommend going with a standard tank-type heater.

0 Comments

Water Heaters - AO Smith ProLine vs AO Smith Signature

1/13/2025

0 Comments

AO Smith is one of the industries best manufacturers of Traditional Tank Type Water Heaters. Did you know that they offer different 2 different qualities of water heaters? The AO Smith ProLine is built with "Commercial Grade Components" while your Signature is built with standard components. Below is a list of points to consider when replacing your water heater.

Availability and Purchase Channels:

AO Smith Signature: Exclusively available at Lowe's and through the AO Smith shop on Amazon. These models are designed for direct consumer purchase and do not require professional installation for warranty validity.
AO Smith ProLine: Available only through professional installers or contractors, not directly sold to consumers in retail stores. They are often marketed through plumbing supply houses.

Quality and Components:

AO Smith Signature: These units are typically seen as more budget-friendly options with basic features. They might use more standard components compared to ProLine. Some users and professionals suggest that the quality might be slightly lower than ProLine, especially in terms of materials like drain valves, which could be plastic instead of brass.
AO Smith ProLine: Known for higher quality components and construction. ProLine models often feature commercial-grade parts like brass drain valves, thicker insulation, and upgraded elements. They are designed with durability in mind, using better anode rods and possibly different tank linings.

Warranty and Support:

AO Smith Signature: Generally comes with a standard 6-year warranty for tanks, with limited labor warranty coverage (1 year). The warranty process might involve dealing with the retailer where it was purchased, like Lowe's.
AO Smith ProLine: Offers extended warranty coverage, such as 8-year warranties on some models, and the warranty support is often directly through AO Smith or local supply houses, which might facilitate quicker service or part replacements. The lack of labor warranty is typical for commercial products, but the parts warranty is generally seen as more robust.

Efficiency and Performance:

AO Smith Signature: While efficient, these models do not typically match the highest efficiency ratings of the ProLine series. They offer good value for money but might not have the latest energy-saving technologies or as high recovery rates.
AO Smith ProLine: Includes models with higher energy efficiency ratings, possibly ENERGY STAR certifications, and options for high-efficiency technologies like heat pump or tankless systems. They are engineered for better performance in terms of hot water delivery and energy efficiency.

Modern Plumbing proudly stocks and installs AO Smith ProLine Water Heaters.
Call us today for a Free Estimate at (352) 726-5601 or Schedule Online at www.citruscountyplumbers.com
Visit our Water Heaters Page to learn more about more important information about pricing your new water heater.

0 Comments

5 Things To Consider When Selecting a Plumber

1/6/2025

0 Comments

Licensing and Certification:

Ensure the plumber is licensed to work in your area. Licensing requirements vary by state, but a license generally indicates that the plumber has met certain professional standards. Look for additional certifications like those from trade organizations which can denote specialized skills or ongoing education.
Modern Plumbing is a Florida State Certified Plumbing Contractor License CFC1426865 and is registered with Citrus County Building Department as well as City of Inverness. Our License and Insurance Certificates are up to date and on file.

Experience and Reputation:

Check how long they've been in business. Experienced plumbers are likely to handle a broader range of plumbing issues effectively. Look at reviews on platforms like Yelp, Google, or Facebook. Personal recommendations from friends or neighbors can also be invaluable. Making sure your Plumber is local to your area is valuable and important to ensure price savings and readily available for all of your plumbing needs.
Modern Plumbing has proudly been in business since 1978. Our Plumbers are well experienced and prepared in both residential and commercial applications. We are very proud of our reputation for excellent customer service. We take pride in customer satisfaction and it shows through our reviews from customers.

Insurance:

Verify that the plumber has liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance. This protects you from being liable for any accidents or damages that occur while they are working on your property.
Modern Plumbing carries all necessary Liability and Workers Comp and have them on file with local building departments as required.

Service Guarantee and Warranties:

Reputable plumbers usually offer some form of guarantee on their work or warranties on parts. This can give you peace of mind knowing that if something goes wrong shortly after the job is done, it can be fixed at no additional cost. Ask about the specifics of what's covered and for how long.
Modern Plumbing offers a Fully Guaranteed One Year Warranty on all fixtures supplied and installed against defects and workmanship. We supply and install industry leading brands such as AO Smith ProLine Water Heaters, American Standard Toilets and Lavatories, and Delta Faucets and Valves.

Clear Pricing and Estimates:

Before hiring, get a written estimate that includes all costs. Some plumbers charge by the hour, while others might offer a flat rate for specific jobs. Ensure there are no hidden fees, and understand what the estimate includes. A good plumber will be transparent about costs and might even offer a breakdown of what's covered in the estimate.
Modern Plumbing offers Free Professional Type-Written and Emailed Estimates. Our Plumbers do very thorough estimates and outline everything that is included in the project as well as everything that is not included in the project. We offer suggestions and optional pricing as well for you to review.

Thank you for reading The Modern Plumber!
We hope you enjoyed the content. Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.
Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with future articles.
Support our content by sharing with a friend.

0 Comments