Instant Water Heater Vs Storage Water Heater: Which One Fits Your Need?

A water heater or geyser is a practical investment for your household. It allows you to take hot baths during cold winter months. A water heater can last decades, so it is worth the high-cost upfront. Domestic water heaters are of two primary types: instant water heaters and storage water heaters.

An instant water heater, as the name suggests, instantly heats water when you need to use it. You can simply switch it on and start using hot water within a couple of minutes. However, since this type of water heater heats small amounts of water in a batch, it may take time for you to collect a bucket-full of hot water.

A storage water heater heats a relatively large amount of water in a batch. Since it heats more water than an instant water heater, you will have to wait ten minutes or more before you can get hot water. However, the advantage of this type of water heater is that the amount of hot water you can collect once the heating is done is more.

Both types of water heaters are available from brands like Crompton. However, before you go shopping for the best water heater in India, there are four primary things to consider.

Space

An instant water heater takes up much less space than a storage water heater. This is because an instant water heater does not need to store water while heating it. However, a storage water heater will need to store a lot of water, depending on the capacity of the water heater. They can be much larger in size than an instant water heater.

If there is a space constraint in your bathroom, then an instant water heater may be a better option. Remember that a water heater is installed near the ceiling of a bathroom, so space is usually not a big issue for water heaters.

Water Pressure

An instant water heater uses water flow restrictors to regulate the flow of water. A storage water heater uses gravity to create a better water flow. Hence, the water pressure that you can get from a storage water heater is higher than that of an instant water heater.

Water pressure is important since a higher water pressure will lead to a more comfortable and enjoyable shower experience.

However, there is a flipside. Since an instant water heater only heats a small amount of water in one go, you can get a better water temperature. When using a storage water heater, you may need to manually adjust the cold and hot settings of your shower to get an appropriate temperature.

Cost

The overall water heater price of an instant water heater is lower than that of a storage water heater. Instant water heaters are much easier to install, and they consume less electricity. An instant water heater does not require as much plumbing as a storage water heater. Further, since instant water heats smaller amounts of water, they also use less electricity.

The exact water heater price depends on your usage patterns. If you’re looking to heat large amounts of water, then the overall electricity cost for using an instant water heater and a storage water heater may be similar. However, the installation cost for an instant water heater will always be lower.

Time

An instant hot water geyser/water heater takes a much shorter time to heat water than a storage water heater. An instant water heater only heats up a small amount of water in its heating chamber and does not store water. A storage water heater collects a lot of water and heats it all simultaneously. Hence, it will take longer before you can start to use it.

However, a storage water heater also comes with an insulated water tank. The water that it heats will stay warm for a long period, so when you use it again, you will get hot water more quickly.

Conclusion

Both types of water heaters have their respective pros and cons.

If you’re looking to get quick hot water for a short shower, then an instant water heater or geysers may be the best. However, if you’re looking to use large amounts of water, then a storage water heater may be more efficient.