Instant Water Heaters vs Storage Water Heaters: A Quick Comparison Guide

Building a new home? Getting your own space is indeed a big milestone for you. While being a homeowner for the first time is an exciting stage for many, it can also be both confusing and tiring. This include budgeting your financial resources to choose and decide on your home’s look, furnishings and essential fixtures to make your abode as comfortable as possible when you finally move in.

Among the things that you have to decide on is choosing which types of water heaters work best for your home. Broadly speaking, there are two types of water heaters: Instant water heaters and storage water heaters. Although there have been many heated discussions on which is better, both instant and storage water heaters are great in their own ways. Here are four factors that people usually consider when purchasing water heaters:

     1.    Space

It is important to know the differences and unique features between instant and storage water heaters. When it comes to space, instant water heaters are compact, small in size, and only take up a fraction of space. On the other hand, because storage water heaters can hold large amounts of water, they typically require a sizeable space for installation. In fact, some storage water heaters can hold up to 300 litres of hot water, which is more than enough for a family of four (4) people, so you can imagine just how big storage water heaters can go! Plus, they may require additional mounting brackets to install, which means more space is required.

However, as a centralized water heating system, storage water heater can supply hot water to multiple usage points such as the basin, kitchen, bathtub and shower tap. On the other hand, because instant water heaters are compact and small in size, they tend to serve hot water for single or limited use such as a shower or basin, but definitely not for the entire household concurrently. So, if you are looking to have hot water at multiple points at your home, then you may want to consider going forward with a storage water heater.

   2.    Water Pressure

Water pressure can make or break your shower experience. For instant water heaters, the in-built flow restrictors help regulate the flow of water into the instant water heater. This means that when a person is taking a bath or using a shower, only the right amount of water can enter the heating chamber of the instant water heater for water to be heated instantly. This in turn leads to lower water pressure. On the flipside, because only a small amount of water is being heated when in use, it is easier for you to get the temperature you want. On the other hand, storage water heaters are main pressure systems that use gravity force to provide comfort and excellent water pressure for an enhanced shower experience. This means that water can flow at high pressure at up to about 10 lit/min while consistently giving you hot water. However, this also means that you need to use your mixer to manually mix both hot and cold water in order to get your ideal water temperature.

     3.    Cost

Another factor that needs to be weighed down and compared between the two is their costs. Instant water heaters tend to be easier to install and maintain, while storage water heaters are more complex to install because of its sheer size and the pipes required. Moreover, when it comes to the operating cost of using instant water heaters as opposed to storage water heaters, it can vary depending on usage patterns. Generally, instant water heaters only consume electrical energy when in use, so they tend to cost less to operate. Conversely, because storage water heaters take more time to heat up, they tend to consume more electrical energy, which may lead to higher electrical operating cost.

     4.    Time Needed to Heat Up

An integral factor between these two water heaters is their differences when it comes to heating water. Instant water heaters heat up water instantaneously through its tiny heating chamber which does not store water. On the other hand, Storage Water Heaters heat water in large volume, therefore taking longer time to heat up. While you can shorten heating time by adjusting the dial on the storage water heater to the maximum, heating time is still relatively longer (up to one hour), as compared to instant water heaters. However, there are good quality storage water heaters out in the market that can help shorten heating time thanks to its high quality heating element, thickness of tank material, and types of insulation used. A well-insulated tank tends to retain more heat for longer periods of time, which means the next time you turn on the water heater, the time needed to heat the large volume of water in the tank will be shorter, since the water was already warm to begin with. All these little details help reduce the time needed to heat up the water.

At the end of the day, both types of water heaters have their merits, and it is only a matter of deciding which best suits your shower preferences. If you are a person who wants a quick warm bath at home, then an instant water heater is for you. But if you prioritize stronger water pressure and centralized water heating functions, then a storage water heater is for you!

Whether you’re seeking an instant water heater or a storage water heater, you can get yours from Rheem, a leading global water heating manufacturer of high quality and innovative water heating products! Whatever preference you may have, we’re here for you!

Get your Rheem water heater today! Learn more about our storage and instant water heaters here:  www.rheemphilippines.com/products/