Eco-Friendly Hot Water Heaters?

Hot water heaters are an important part of any home. With many gallons of water being used on a day to day basis, it is important to know how efficient a water heater is being both in terms of productivity and economically. In recent times, there have been more and more green products made for the home.

These new products can save energy costs while providing the same quality service. One question that has been raised is, “Are eco-friendly hot water heaters worth it?”

Like a lot of new products, there are pros and cons between newer green water heaters and older heaters. Of the newer green heaters, they consist of solar powered tanks and tankless heaters. The tankless heaters have been in more demand, since solar power is not as consistent as the plug in they require.  Older, more traditional hot water heaters take up more space and have a reserve of water on hand 24 hours a day, unlike tankless heaters that use a more “on-demand” approach.

Over time, tankless hot water heaters can save a good amount of money. Annually most tankless hot water heaters can save $60-$90 annually for users. This has led to demand from consumers in recent years.  Since water is used in large scale across the United States, this savings is important. Why then, are conventional hot water heaters still widely used across the country?

There are many reasons for this. First off, builders of homes and other forms of property still use conventional methods, and this includes traditional hot water heaters. While there is demand for greener products, including tankless water heaters, the market penetration is not high enough yet for them to become standard issue when it comes to home building. Until the market can permeate more, the go-to for construction companies will remain traditional hot water heaters.

Another issue is the true cost-effectiveness of a tankless hot water heater. While it is true they can save money and are more efficient, they also have a much higher cost. In some cases, it may take over 20 years for buyers to reap the benefits of a tankless heater.  This is disappointing considering the life-span of these products is also right around 20 years. This means that over time there is not truly a huge cost benefit for buying this green product.

However, if being environmentally stable is important to you, the numbers do show that it will not cost any excess money in the long run. So it could be a viable option for some consumers. It also may be important to note that in the upcoming years, greener products will become more mainstream and new standards will be made. Having an outdated water heater may hut the resale value of some properties.

Andrew Yessen is a blogger for We Buy Ugly Houses. If you are looking to sell your home in DC, contact us today!