Should I get a tankless water heater?
Tankless makes sense for long-term homeowners, households with high hot-water demand, or anyone who's already replacing a tank and wants 20+ years out of the next unit. It costs more upfront ($1,500-$3,000 more installed) but saves on gas and lasts roughly 2x as long.
Tankless makes sense for long-term homeowners, households with high hot-water demand, or anyone who's already replacing a tank and wants 20+ years out of the next unit. It costs more upfront ($1,500-$3,000 more installed) but saves on gas and lasts roughly 2x as long.
Tankless gives you endless hot water, uses less gas (no standby loss keeping 50 gallons hot 24/7), and lasts roughly twice as long as a tank. The trade-off is upfront cost — $1,500-$3,000 more than a tank once you factor in the gas line upgrade most tankless units need (typically 3/4" gas from the meter).
It also needs annual or biennial descaling in Utah because of our hard water, but that's a 30-minute service, not a repair.
Tankless is a bad fit if you're planning to sell within 3-4 years (payback is longer than that), if your gas line can't be upgraded, or if you regularly want 3+ showers running simultaneously on a single unit (you may need a larger BTU model or two units tied together).
Need help with this at your home?
In-home estimates for new equipment are always free. Repair diagnostics are $79 for HVAC or $39 for plumbing & electrical — waived when you approve the repair.
Related questions
Last reviewed April 1, 2026.