Questions · Water heaters
Tank or tankless in Arizona?
Tankless gives endless hot water, takes back the floor space and has no tank to fail. A tank costs less to install and is simpler to service. In the Valley the deciding factor is usually hard water, because a tankless unit needs regular flushing here and a neglected one scales quickly.
Tankless suits a house that
- Runs out of hot water on a normal morning
- Wants the garage or closet floor back
- Sits empty for stretches, because there is no tank being kept hot for nobody
- Already has a softener, or is getting one at the same time
A tank still makes sense when
- The gas line, venting or electrical supply would all need changing for tankless
- Several fixtures run at once and the flow demand is high
- The budget is for the install, and flushing is unlikely to get done
- The existing spot and connections suit a straight swap
The Arizona part
A tankless unit heats water as it passes through a narrow heat exchanger. Hard water leaves scale on exactly that surface, which is why descaling matters more here than in soft water country. Done on schedule, a tankless unit does very well in the Valley. Ignored, it loses output and starts throwing faults.
A softener in front of it changes the picture completely, which is why we talk about the two together rather than one at a time.
Side by side
| Item | Tank and tankless |
|---|---|
| Hot water | A tank gives you what it holds. A tankless unit keeps going as long as the flow stays within its rating. |
| Space | A tank takes floor space. A tankless unit hangs on a wall, inside or outside. |
| Install | A tank is usually the simpler swap. Tankless may need gas, venting or electrical changes. |
| Upkeep here | A tank wants flushing. A tankless unit wants descaling, and it matters more. |
| Failure | A failed tank puts water on the floor. A tankless unit usually faults and stops. |
From the job log
Work we’ve done
Answers
Does tankless really never run out of hot water?
It does not run out over time, but it is limited by flow. Ask it for more gallons per minute than it is rated for and the temperature drops. That is why sizing by fixtures running at once matters.
Is tankless worth it in a hard water area?
Yes, if it gets descaled and better still if it has a softener in front of it. Without either, hard water takes the advantage back.
Can a tankless unit go outside here?
Outdoor models are made for it and we have installed them in the Valley. The install has to account for sun exposure and how the lines are run and protected.
If you need this done
- Tankless water heatersSwapping a builder-grade tank for a tankless unit, indoors or out, with the gas, venting and water lines done right.
- Water heater installOld unit out, new one sized for your household, connected, tested and left to code. Gas or electric, tank or tankless.
- Water softenersValley water is some of the hardest in the country. A softener removes the minerals that scale fixtures, spot glass and shorten a water heater's life.
- Where we workEvery town and ZIP across the Valley we cover.
In-home estimate
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Rather talk? Call or text (602) 833-4133.