Went through this exact debate last year when our old tank started rusting out. Ended up sticking with a traditional high-efficiency tank too, mostly because the upfront cost of tankless was just too steep once we factored in the gas line upgrade. Honestly, it's been solid—no complaints yet. Tankless sounds great, but for our smaller household and tight budget, the math just didn't add up...maybe next time around.
We went tankless about two years ago—yeah, upfront costs were rough, especially with the gas line upgrade. But our energy bills dropped noticeably, and I like knowing we're wasting less energy overall. Still, totally get why you'd stick with a tank...budget realities are no joke.
Interesting points, but have you considered the maintenance angle? I've had tenants complain about inconsistent hot water with tankless setups—especially during peak usage times. Did you run into any of those hiccups, or has it been smooth sailing?
Had the same issue at first—wife wasn't thrilled about sudden cold showers mid-shampoo, lol. But after tweaking the settings and a quick flush every year, it's been pretty reliable. Just gotta stay on top of it.
"wife wasn't thrilled about sudden cold showers mid-shampoo, lol."
Haha, been there myself—nothing like a surprise ice bath to test a marriage. Glad you got it sorted out though. Honestly, regular flushing and tweaking settings can make a huge difference. A lot of folks jump straight to replacing the whole unit, but sometimes a little TLC is all it needs. Mine was acting up last year, rusty water and all, but after flushing out the sediment and swapping the anode rod, it's been smooth sailing since. You're right about staying on top of it—maintenance really is key with these things. Good on you for sticking with it and figuring it out... your wallet probably thanks you too.
