June 3, 2025
Tankless Water Heaters in Belgrade, MT

Tankless water heaters can be an excellent investment for your Belgrade, MT home. This is an energy-efficient method of heating water, eliminating the need for maintaining water temperature inside a tank or keeping up with costly utility bills. This leads people to wonder how much electricity a tankless water heater uses to operate on an on-demand basis. The answer varies, with tankless water heaters using anywhere from 4,500 to 30,000 watts to function. Factors such as unit size and interior components will determine the actual amount of electricity used.

Heating Water On-Demand

A traditional water heater with a tank-based design heats water and then stores it in a tank. Your water heater will run periodically to maintain the temperature of the water in that tank, even if you’re not using any hot water in your home. This can be a very inefficient process, regardless of whether you have a gas-powered water heater or an electric model.

Tankless water heaters will heat water when you turn on a faucet or fixture. Your unit will draw a large amount of electricity at that moment of operation. That large amount of electricity is only used for short bursts of time. If you have a household with substantial hot water demands, this will raise your electrical consumption. However, you must remember that you’re not running your tankless equipment as often as a tank-based model. The electrical consumption of a tankless model will be less over an entire day, saving you money in the long run.

The Importance of Professional Installation

It’s very important that a knowledgeable professional install your tankless water heater to ensure efficiency. There is an inspection process that will occur to determine if your home’s electrical system can handle the surge in power that results from the use of a tankless water heater. Modern homes can usually handle this draw, but older homes may require modifications or expansions to the main breaker panel. Also, all work should be according to local code enforcement for safety purposes.

Other Benefits to Consider

A traditional water heater with a tank takes up a lot of space. If you have a smaller home with limited availability for installation, a tankless water heater is ideal. A small unit is mounted to the wall of your basement or utility closet. This frees up valuable floor space and is perfect for apartments or condominiums.

The life expectancy of a tankless water heater is approximately 15 to 20 years. This is assuming that you keep up with routine maintenance and necessary repairs. A tank-based model will usually only last between 12 and 15 years at most. A lot of the issues that occur with a tank-based water heater that shorten its lifespan include tank corrosion and other tank-focused problems. There is a lower risk of leaks and component damage with a tankless model.

Convenience is one of the most profound benefits of a tankless water heater. If you’ve ever been in the middle of a hot shower only for the water to turn cold, then you know how ideal it is to have an unending flow of hot water. This is a great solution for households that have many people living there, in addition to hot water demands like a dishwasher and washing machine.

Keeping up With Routine Maintenance

To keep your tankless water heater functioning efficiently and reliably for many years, we recommend annual inspection and routine maintenance. This process includes evaluating several components for signs of wear or damage. We can also flush and descale your unit, which removes mineral deposits and sediment from the heating elements. This can boost efficiency and reduce electrical consumption.

There are filters in your tankless system that should be cleaned or replaced periodically. These filters prevent debris from entering the system and causing component damage.

We will check the different components of your tankless system that can contribute to the overall safety of your unit. This includes pressure-relief valves, gas connections and venting systems.

Our team at PJ's Plumbing & Heating can help you determine if a tankless water heater is a wise investment for your Belgrade residence. We can provide installation services, routine maintenance and emergency repairs as well.

Reach out to PJ's Plumbing & Heating in Belgrade to schedule an appointment today.

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