When you go to the market to buy a water heater, you will see two different types of water heaters available. One is the Instant Water Heater, and the other is the Storage Water Heater.
It is essential to know the differences between Instant Geyser Vs Storage Geyser, as both come with advantages and disadvantages, and we should know which one is the best based on our requirements.
This article will discuss the difference between instant and storage geysers based on different parameters, and at the end, we will conclude which one has an edge.
What Is An Instant Water Heater / Geyser?
Instant Water Heaters do not have a tank to store hot water. That is why it is also called a Tankless water heater.
Water gets heated when it passes through the heat exchanger. You will get instant hot water as it does not have to heat the complete volume of water before delivering it.
Instant water heaters are available in a range of 3-6 liters capacity. Please don’t get confused by the term capacity when there is no tank.
Here, the 3-5 liters capacity denotes the flow rate per minute. This means a 3-liter instant water heater will deliver 3 liters of hot water per minute.
Instant water heaters are energy efficient, occupy less space, and are cheap. However, instant water heaters are not a good option for heavy usage.
What Is A Storage Water Heater / Geyser?
Storage water heaters have a water tank with a capacity generally between 10 liters and 35 liters for storing hot water.
The heating element will heat the water to the desired temperature and store it in the tank. As long as the water temperature does not go down, the heating element will be idle.
Once the water temperature exceeds the desired range, the thermostat will activate the heating coil and heat the water again. The cycle flows like that until you turn off the power.
Storage water heaters are for prominent families and are used heavily. It occupies more space and often requires professional installation. It also consumes and wastes more power than instant water heaters.
Instant Geyser Vs Storage Geyser: Which One Is Better
We will find out the differences between an instant water heater vs storage water heater based on the following parameters.
Hot Water Availability
You will get instant hot water in Instant Geysers, but the amount of hot water you will get is limited to the flow rate.
For example, if you buy a 3-liter instant water heater, you will get 3 liters of hot water instantly. However, if you need more water, you need to wait.
Storage water takes about 5-10 minutes before it can deliver hot water. Once it starts producing, you will get a continuous water flow until it exhausts its capacity.
You also need to consider the input water temperature. For example, if the input water temperature is 5°C and you want the output water temperature to be 40°C, you may get hot water instantly.
However, if you want the output water temperature to be 60°C, it may take some time to get hot water.
The time water heaters take to deliver hot water directly depends on the temperature difference. For example, the water heater that provides hot water instantly in Hyderabad may not produce hot water instantly in Delhi due to the temperature difference.
Energy Efficiency
Instant water heaters use powerful heating elements to deliver hot water instantly. So it consumes more power.
However, there is no power loss as it does not heat the water, store it, and heat it again. That is why, for regular use, instant water heaters are more energy efficient.
Storage water heaters must heat water, store it, and heat it again when required. The cycle continues until you turn off the power. So it consumes more power as it runs for more time than an instant water heater.
You also need to consider the energy loss in storage water heaters. For example, even if you need a bucket of water for a bath, the storage water heater will heat the full water capacity in the water heater, although you don’t need that much water.
Considering all these use case scenarios, instant water heaters are always more energy efficient than storage water heaters.
Flow Rate
The flow rate is an essential aspect when comparing the differences between instant water heaters and storage water heaters.
Generally, the tap in the kitchen has a flow rate of around 3 liters/minute, whereas showers have a flow rate of around 8 liters/minute.
Now, if you have a 3-liter instant water heater, you will get hot water instantly in the kitchen tap as the tap and water heater flow rates are the same.
Now, if you use the same water heater for the shower, you may not get hot water, as the shower flow rate is more than the water heater flow rate. You may get a mix of cold and hot water.
Storage water heaters have a different story. They come in sizes 10-35 liters, suitable for even showers.
This means if you use storage water heaters, you won’t get a mix of hot and cold water during showers or similar heavy usage.
Size
Many Indian households have cramped bathroom space. Fitting a storage water heater could be challenging due to its vast size. You may also need special brackets to hold the heater in place.
On the other hand, instant water heaters are so small that you can hang them anywhere you want. Be it in a cramped bathroom or on top of your kitchen tap.
So, if space concerns you, you have no option except to choose an instant water heater.
Capacity
Instant water heaters are available in the range of 3-6 liters capacity, whereas storage water heaters come in the range of 10-35 liters capacity. Commercial heaters have more than 100 liters of capacity too.
Please note that instant water heaters do not have a tank. The capacity of an instant water heater refers to the flow rate.
So, for casual day-to-day usage, instant water heaters are good, but for heavy usage, storage water heaters are better, as you will have more volume of hot water at any given point in time.
Multi Point Usage
Storage water heaters can be used for multi-point usage. For example, you can use the same water heater to supply hot water to the kitchen and the bathroom. All you need to do is get your piping done correctly.
Since Storage water heaters store hot water, it is easy to supply hot water to different outlets without any issues.
In the case of an instant water heater, it is suitable for single-point use only, as the water volume per minute is minimal, and there is no storage tank. Even if you use it for multi-point usage, you may not get hot water from every outlet.
Lifespan
Instant water heaters do not need regular maintenance since there is no tank and no issues related to corrosion or mineral deposits.
The only concern is the heating element. But the technology is advanced enough to serve you for at least 5-7 years before the heating element fails.
The lifespan of a storage water heater depends on how frequently you service it and how good the water is.
If it is hard water, you will see issues popping up within 2-3 years in the tank. Although different technologies like Blue Diamond glass-lined technology and other corrosion-resistant technologies are in place, the tank will still give you trouble in no time.
Safety
No compromises on safety in both an instant water heater and the storage water heater. Features like pressure release valves, thermostats, PUF insulation (storage), and circuit breakers are available in both water heaters.
Usage
Instant water heaters are only suitable for casual single-point usage. If you are a heavy user, you may install multiple instant water heaters or buy a storage water heater and implement multi-point usage.
The benefits are different in both types of water heaters; however, for heavy usage, storage water heaters are the only option.
Price
Storage water heaters are costly as they have a water tank and other features to safeguard the tank.
The initial setup cost is high, as you may need professional installation and regular servicing. If you use gas to power the storage water heater, the setup cost is enormous.
Instant water heaters are cheap to own and operate. But you need to compromise on the usage.
Conclusion: Instant Vs Storage Geyser
There is no clear conclusion about which one is better, as it all depends on your family size and usage. If your usage is more, choose a storage water heater. Otherwise, instant water heaters are more than sufficient.
If your budget is low, choose an instant water heater and compromise on the usage. So, ultimately, it’s your responsibility to decide which is the best for you.
I would recommend you go through this Water Heater Size Chart, which will give a fair idea about how to choose a water heater based on different everyday scenarios.
