Tankless Water Heaters in Bolingbrook, IL

Many homeowners in Bolingbrook, Naperville, Plainfield, and Romeoville are choosing tankless water heaters when it comes time to replace their old, tank–style water heaters. But some homeowners prefer to remain with traditional, tank–style units. Each type has advantages in terms of performance and energy savings, so how do you decide which water heater is best for your home?

Basic Operation

Let’s start with the basics. Tankless water systems circulate cold water from the house water supply through a heat exchanger inside the heater. When a homeowner in Bolingbrook or Plainfield turns on the shower, opens a faucet, or starts the washing machine, the flow of hot water signals the hot water heater to start operating. It continues to operate as long as hot water is being used.

By contrast, tank water heaters store hot water in a large 30, 40 or 50 gallon steel tank. The water is kept at a constant temperature of anywhere from 100 to 120 degrees, depending on where the thermostat is set. As soon as a homeowner in Naperville or Plainfield opens a hot water faucet or turns on an appliance, the hot water flows through the pipes. But the supply is limited. As the hot water from tank is used up, it’s replaced by cold water from the house water supply, and it can take a while for the heater to warm it up to the right temperature.

Pros and Cons

The immediate advantage of tankless water heaters is that they don’t expend energy to keep a large tank of water at a constant hot temperature. Energy is only used to heat the water as it flows through the heat exchanger. Tank water heaters keep burning energy, night and day, to maintain a large tank of hot water, even when the homeowner is at work or away on vacation.

But some homeowners in Bolingbrook and Naperville have found that the water from their tankless systems can take a while to heat up. A lot of cold water may flow through the system before it reaches the right temperature. Tank heaters supply hot water almost instantly. Smaller tankless water heaters can also be overwhelmed if several sinks or appliances place demands on the system at the same time. That’s why it’s important to estimate your family’s typical hot water usage when choosing which size tankless water heater to install.

Another difference is that tankless units are much smaller than tank–style heaters. Most tankless water heaters are meant to be mounted on a wall. Tank heaters must be placed on the floor and take up quite a bit of space.

Both types can use electricity, gas, or oil as an energy source. Water heaters that use gas or oil must be properly vented to release exhaust gas outdoors.

Choosing the Right System

Deciding which type of water heater to install in your Plainfield home depends on a number of factors, such as how much hot water does your family use each day, and what type of energy source is already available in your home. Tankless water heaters tend to cost a bit more than tank units, but the difference in price can often be made up by lower energy costs. Different brands and types of units also have different energy efficiency ratings.

The knowledgeable staff at DuAll Heating & Cooling can help you sort through all the choices. We can talk to you about your family’s current hot water usage and energy costs, and discuss the installation and maintenance costs of the various systems you might be considering for your Bolingbrook home.

Expert Service in Naperville, Bolingbrook and Surrounding Areas

DuAll Heating & Cooling installs, services, and repairs all types of hot water heating systems – tank–style and tankless – in Bolingbrook, Naperville, Plainfield, and Romeoville. Our qualified technicians will make sure that any water heater installation or repair fully conforms to local codes and manufacturer’s specifications. Call us with any questions about water heaters for your Bolingbrook home.