Although tankless water heaters are an efficient, cost effective way to heat up water for your family's personal use, not every home has the type of Plumbing necessary to use these new devices. If you live in an older home, make sure that you consult with a plumber before you make your tankless water heater purchase. You do not want to go to all the trouble deciding which unit to buy only to find out that you can only use the traditional tank models. A plumber will be able to quickly tell you if a tankless water heater is right for your home.