Tankless water heaters are highly rated for their energy efficiency, endless hot water, and space-saving design. However, they cost significantly more upfront to purchase and install compared to standard tanks. For most households, they are an excellent, long-term luxury investment, but the payback period depends heavily on your usage.
Tankless water heaters have higher upfront costs, limited hot water flow during simultaneous use, and require annual maintenance to prevent mineral scaling. Retrofitting them often requires expensive utility upgrades, and they don't produce hot water during power outages.
The Noritz Easy Series NG Tankless Water Heater is a high-efficiency solution built to directly replace traditional 40-gallon natural gas storage tanks. Delivering continuous hot water on demand, this condensing tankless unit eliminates the limitations of tank capacity while reducing energy costs.
Insulate your tankless water heater pipes to prevent freezing and bursts. When plumbing guides talk about “insulating your tankless”, they mean the pipes going to and from your unit. They're as susceptible to freezing and bursting as any other pipes in your plumbing system.
For larger households, multiple showers, laundry, and dishwashing may run at the same time. Hot water demand could reach 10–12+ GPM. A high-capacity tankless water heater—or even two units installed in parallel—may be the best solution.
A tankless water heater usually goes cold mid-shower because the water flow drops below the heater's minimum activation threshold, or the system is overloaded by using too many fixtures at once. It can also happen if sediment blocks the filter or the unit is improperly sized.
This problem usually comes down to capacity, heat production, or mixing issues inside your plumbing system. Sometimes the fix is simple, like adjusting your water heater temperature or flushing out sediment. Other times you may need a new mixing valve, an element replacement, or a different size water heater.
Here is a simple way to decide: Choose Navien if you want the highest efficiency, longest warranty, and built-in recirculation. Choose Rinnai if you have a large household and need the highest flow rates. Choose Rheem if you want a reliable brand at a lower price point.
A properly sized tankless water heater won't “run out” of hot water in the traditional sense - it provides hot water on demand, continuously. However, if demand exceeds its flow rate (e.g., too many showers and appliances running at once), it can struggle to keep up and cause a drop in temperature.
Plumbers often hesitate to recommend tankless water heaters because they act like high-performance sports cars. Unlike traditional tank models that are "workhorses" and can function while mostly ignored, tankless units require precise installation, regular maintenance, and are highly sensitive to mineral buildup.
Natural gas is usually the cheapest way. Even with higher gas prices, a heating system fueled by natural gas is typically less than electricity, propane, or heating oil. Energy efficiency is another way to assess the cost of a heating system. An energy-efficient heating system saves you money on your heating bill.
Tankless water heater installation costs between $1,404 and $3,899 for your home, depending on unit size and setup. The fuel type you choose shapes your upfront and utility costs, with electric lower-priced and solar earning tax credits.
Here are six of the most common problems and maintenance concerns for tankless water heaters:
Because tankless water heaters are more efficient, they cost less money to operate. This can save you money in the long run since utility bills are lower than with a tank water heater. Many people find that the cost savings in energy usage eventually makes up for the higher initial cost of a tankless heater.
They're Quiet and Unobtrusive
Tankless hot water heaters don't make the same noise tank-types do once they've reached full operating temperature (which sometimes can be as loud as 90 dB or more!).
Plumbers most highly recommend Bradford White, A.O. Smith, and Rheem. These brands are heavily favored because they are highly reliable, have readily available replacement parts, and use superior internal components compared to budget models.
Forbes Ranks Rheem the No. 1 Air Conditioning Brand. Quiet operation, price and excellent customer service earned Rheem top marks as the number 1 air conditioning brand.
Choose based on your priorities: energy efficiency, size, performance, warranty coverage, and household hot-water demand.
Low Water Pressure or Pressure Balancing Issues
Sometimes, the reason your shower water turns cold is related to water pressure. A pressure balance valve controls the flow of hot and cold water. If it's malfunctioning or your home's overall water pressure is low, you might experience a “cold water sandwich” effect.
Sometimes, you are not getting enough hot water because your water heater element is simply not heating or not heating enough. For instance, your pilot light may be out with a gas system. Or, if it is an electric water heater, your fuse may be flipped due to an outage or other electric problem.
4 Ways to Reduce Cold Water Sandwich
Signs Your Tankless Water Heater Is Frozen
Zero flow from the hot tap: If you turn on the hot water and absolutely nothing comes out (not even cold water), but the cold water tap works fine, your water heater inlet or outlet pipes are likely frozen.
The "cold water sandwich" — a burst of cold water between uses — is a physics issue, not a malfunction. A small buffer tank or recirculation pump eliminates it. Flush the unit annually; mineral buildup is the #1 cause of actual performance loss.