Tank v. Tankless v. Heat Pump Water Heaters

Water heaters are important as well as essential to your regular life in Memphis. From washing your dishes to taking a pleasantly warm shower and even cleaning your clothes, your water heater is necessary to get things done. With that said, this system accounts for about 17 percent of your household energy use so making sure that you have one that is working efficiently is highly important.

One factor involved in making sure that your water heater is going to be the most efficient system for your needs is to make sure that you have the best possible system in place. To help with that, we want to tell you a bit more about your water heater options.

What’s the difference between tank, tankless, and heat pump water heaters?

Tank water heaters store and continuously heat water, making them suitable for homes with high usage but less energy efficient. Tankless models heat water on demand, saving energy but with limited flow rates. Heat pump water heaters use ambient air to heat water efficiently but may underperform in cold spaces.

Comparing Tank, Tankless & Heat Pump Water Heaters

Water heaters aren’t going to be a one-size-fits-all system. We want you to know what some of the main options are for when you need to choose a water heater next.

The water heater options we are focusing on today are going to be tank water heaters, tankless water heaters, and heat pump water heaters. The one that you should get will depend on your water heating needs.

Tank Water Heater

A tank water heater is the standard type of heating system that most homes have had in recent history. These systems involve a large multi-gallon tank that heats and stores water at a certain temperature so it will be ready to go whenever someone needs it. These systems are ideal for homes with high hot water demands. Though, while modern models are fairly energy efficient, they aren’t the most efficient types out there.

Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters may sound strange if you’ve never heard of them but they are actually wonderfully reliable and efficient systems. Rather than operating by storing gallons of heated water, tankless water heaters only heat water when it is requested. This gets rid of the energy waste created by standby heat loss and ensures you never run out of hot water because there is always more being made. These systems are great for homes with smaller water demands but may not be the best fit for a house of four or more people.

Heat Pump Water Heater

Last but certainly not least is your heat pump water heater. If you have a heat pump heating and cooling system in your house you may already have an idea of how these water heaters work but we want to give you a brief overview just in case. Heat pump water heaters pull warmth out of the air around them and transfer it into the water in their tank, thereby providing you with hot water. This is a highly energy-efficient system that only runs into trouble when temperatures drop too low.

Professional Installation & Support for All Water Heater Types

Now that you know your options for what kinds of water heaters you can choose for your home, you may be planning to install a new system or replace an old one. When you need a professional to get this job done, make sure you contact our team. We have the licensing, experience, and training to ensure the job gets done correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What are the main differences between tank, tankless, and heat pump water heaters?
Answer: Tank water heaters store and heat large volumes of water continuously, making them suitable for high-demand households but less energy-efficient. Tankless heaters heat water on demand, avoiding standby heat loss and offering endless hot water, ideal for homes with modest needs. Heat pump heaters extract heat from surrounding air to warm a storage tank, offering higher energy efficiency but requiring space and ambient heat.

Question: Why might a tankless water heater be more efficient than a conventional tank model?
Answer: Tankless heaters only heat water when needed, eliminating energy wasted through standby heat loss, when the heater keeps stored water warm all the time, which makes them more energy-efficient than traditional tank models.

Question: What makes heat pump water heaters highly energy-efficient?
Answer: Heat pump water heaters transfer heat from ambient air into the water rather than generating it directly. This method can save 50% to over 75% in energy usage compared to standard electric heaters.

Question: Are there trade-offs with heat pump water heaters?
Answer: Yes. While energy-efficient, heat pump water heaters typically cost more upfront and need adequate space for airflow. They also may underperform in colder climates unless supplemented with electric backup heating.

Contact Automatic Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing to schedule your service. Since 1943, it’s been Automatic in Memphis!