Tank water heaters
- Lower purchase and installation cost
- Simple to service and replace
- Can run out during heavy use
- Take up floor space in the basement
Tankless water heaters
- Endless hot water at a steady flow rate
- Wall mounted, freeing floor space
- Higher upfront cost, may need a bigger gas line
- Need annual descaling in hard water
Questions to ask yourself
- How many showers run at once in your home?
- Do you have space for a tank, or want it for something else?
- Can your gas meter and line supply a tankless unit?
- How long do you plan to stay?
Our honest take
For a family of four in a typical detached house, a 50 gallon tank is simple and reliable. For large homes, basement suites or people who want the floor space, tankless often makes sense.
Ask any installer to measure your gas meter capacity before quoting tankless. A surprise gas line upgrade can change the math completely.
Rather hand it over? Our plumbers handle floor drain repair and sump pump repair along with everything else on our residential plumbing list.