Not every home should convert to tankless. Here's a candid head-to-head — cost, lifespan, efficiency, total ownership — using real Washington Gas data and our 200+ Montgomery County installs as reference.
Each row is sourced from either manufacturer specs, Washington Gas data, Energy Star lab tests, or our installed-base measurements. No cherry-picking.
A tank heater's 10–15 year lifespan means most homeowners replace it once during their time in a home. A tankless lasts 20+, meaning no second replacement. Here's how that plays out.
We install tankless because that's our specialty — but tankless isn't for every home. Here's when we'd honestly tell you to stick with a tank.
If you're selling within 3 years, you won't recoup the higher upfront cost of tankless through energy savings. A like-for-like tank swap at $1,800-2,200 is the rational choice.
Single occupant, works from home, rarely uses more than a shower a day and a load of laundry a week? The efficiency gains won't be meaningful. Stick with a standard tank.
If you don't have natural gas service, an electric tankless is usually underpowered for family-sized households. A heat pump water heater (~$1,600 Pepco rebate) is a better electric solution.
Book a free consult and we'll honestly tell you if tankless is the right move for your specific home. We'd rather pass on a job than recommend something that doesn't fit.