Installing a water heater in a cabin, especially one with limited access to resources and utilities, can be difficult. The two types of water heater you have to choose from are normal tank heaters and tankless heaters, and each come with their own pros and cons. There are many factors to consider when it comes to buying a water heater for a more isolated location.

Note Available Plumbing and Space

Unless you have a large cabin, space is likely to be limited, especially if it wasn't built with a specific area for a water heater. If you opt for a water heater that uses a tank, it will need to go somewhere. This is one area where tankless heaters have the advantage; they can be installed both indoors and outdoors, while tanks can only be installed indoors or somewhere enclosed. Tankless water heaters also take significantly less space.

However, you also need to consider your cabin's current plumbing to see where an installation of a tank would be feasible. If you have an ideal location for a certain type of water heater but your cabin's plumbing wouldn't allow a convenient hookup for the heater you want, it might be more expensive in the long-run to make it work. For example, a house built for a tank may need retrofitting to prepare for a tankless heater; they can't just be swapped. Figure out what you have room for and what will fit best with your cabin without raising installation and plumbing costs.

Consider Usage Frequency

When thinking about what type of water heater to get, you should consider how often you will actually be using it. While it's true that the higher price of tankless water heaters is offset by their greater efficiency over the course of its lifetime, you'll only see a benefit if you're using your cabin regularly. If it's only for the occasional weekend trip, you likely won't save any money going tankless.

Calculate How Much Hot Water You Need

The size of the water heater you buy is typically dependent on the size of your home and the water use it demands. If you were hoping to go tankless, this is where having a bigger cabin could work against you; the more hot water you need, the greater the heating capacity you need, and for tankless heaters, that cost can rise fast.

Consider what type of heater you want when calculating what size you need, as what you need to calculate will vary depending on the type of heater.

Consider Fuel Availability

For water heaters, a source of fuel is integral to your decision-making process, especially because tankless water heaters use a lot of power. If you don't have access to public utilities, you may use something like propane or solar, which can limit your options, especially if you need a more powerful water heater. Calculate how much energy your ideal water heater would need, then see if your current setup would be able to handle it.

Both types of water heaters can use a variety of fuel, from propane to natural gas to electricity, so keep your options open there. The type of fuel and storage may influence your decision. For example, if you have solar power with limited batteries, the electric use might be too great for a tankless heater that uses energy in bursts rather than a tank heater that spreads out its energy use. If, however, you use a propane tank where you have plenty of fuel to use regardless of how quickly it's used, a tankless heater could be a viable option.