Instant Geyser Vs Storage Geyser: Comparison with Pros & Cons

Before we dive into the topic of instant geyser vs storage geyser, let us first address the fact that both of these appliances have made our lives significantly simpler. Warm water in the Indian subcontinent in the colder months has always been an issue, and the application of these appliances helps mitigate that issue to a considerable extent.

Today’s discussion will focus on comparing instant and storage geysers in the context of capacity, size, power consumption, heating time, durability, price, maintenance requirements, and best uses. Also, read the pros and cons of each to find a suitable water heater for your home.

Table of Contents

Instant Water Geyser Vs Storage Water Geyser

To find out the better model amongst the instant water geyser and the storage water geyser, the following table sums up the idea of instant geyser and storage geyser.

Point of Difference	Instant Water Geyser	Storage Water Geyser
Capacity	The capacity of instant geysers is relatively less as they do not have any tank to hold the water. Their capacities typically range from 1-12 liters.	Storage geysers have a tank to hold and heat the water. That’s why they have higher capacities that typically start from 10 liters and go up to a whopping 50 liters.
Size and Space Requirement	Instant geysers have a smaller size. They occupy very little space on the walls, ideal for smaller bathrooms and other domestic uses. However, some instant geysers do have a tank but of very small size.	Storage geysers have a big tank to hold the water. According to the tank’s capacity, the size of storage geysers can be larger than instant geysers. These geysers take up a lot of space and aren’t suitable for smaller bathrooms.
Power Consumption	Since the water heating is quite low, the process is accomplished quickly and as a result, the power consumption of the entire device is low.	A storage water geyser heats a large quantity of water and the process takes some to complete. Hence, the power consumption of the device is quite high.
Heating Time	Instant geysers can heat the water in a matter of seconds. That’s because these geysers heat the water on the go.	Storage geysers heat a huge chunk of water in one go, making their operation fairly slower than instant geysers.
Durability	Instant geysers are considered to have a longer lifespan since they require less maintenance and care. They also make use of advanced heating methods that significantly increase their lifespan.	Storage geysers are short-lived and require more maintenance than instant geysers. They have a typical life expectancy of 8-12 years, while instant geysers can last more than 20 years.
Ease of Use	Just turn the tap on, and your instant geyser will provide you with hot water; that’s all you have to do to use an instant geyser.	Storage geysers require special handling and need at least five minutes to provide you with heated water. So, in comparison, using storage geysers is harder than instant geysers.
Lifespan	The lifespan of instant geysers goes off the charts. With an average lifespan of 12-15 years, instant geysers can give you years of reliable service without fail.	The lifespan of storage geysers falls short in most cases. With an average lifespan of 8-12 years, you’ll need to repair your storage geyser more frequently than you would’ve with instant geysers.
Price	The price of instant geysers or instant water heaters is less than that of a storage geyser. You can get good quality instant geysers within the price range of Rs. 3000-6000.	Storage geysers are priced higher than instant geysers. High quality storage geysers can cost you with Rs. 5000-10000.
Maintenance Requirement	Instant geysers are very cost-effective in the long run, although the upfront costs of these geysers are high. Also, instant geysers require less maintenance, reducing the recurring cost even further.	Storage geysers are relatively less cost-effective in the long run and require more maintenance. Also, they have a shorter lifespan, thereby increasing the recurring cost.
Best Use	Instant geysers are best suited for domestic uses simply because they can’t hold the required water for commercial use.	The best use of storage geysers is for bigger bathrooms with bathtubs and commercial services. Storage geysers can hold a significant amount of water, a quality that instant geysers lack.

When to get an Instant Water Geyser?

In the discussion of instant water geyser and storage water geyser, let us begin with the instant variant. As the name suggests, the primary feature of this appliance is that it is capable of heating the water flow instantly. This feature results in the geyser completing its operation within a short time, and hence the power consumption is significantly lower.

Instant geysers are commonly known as the most advanced water heaters available in the market. That’s because they make the process of water-heating to the next level. Instant geysers operate without a tank which makes them extremely fast and compact.

These water heaters are the most suitable geysers for domestic and small-scale commercial use. However, they do have some limitations that make them unsuitable for some users. Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of instant geysers in depth.

Advantages of using Instant geysers

The advantages of using instant water geysers are manifold. A few of them are listed below.

Instant geysers are more power-efficient than storage geysers. That’s because instant geysers instantly heat the water as soon as it detects its flow. This flawless operation allows these geysers to only heat the required amount of water, thereby reducing power consumption by drastic measures. Overall, instant geysers offer higher energy efficiency like no other type of geyser can provide.
These water heaters let you enjoy significant space savings, one of the main USPs of instant geysers. Unlike storage geysers that are huge and eat up a lot of space, instant geysers are pretty smaller in comparison and require less storage space. This primarily benefits smaller bathrooms with only limited space on the walls. Furthermore, the smaller size also allows easy and low-cost maintenance, which is always a good thing.
Instant geysers come in various sizes, from ultra-small to medium, depending on the capacity. In contrast, storage geysers don’t provide such versatile size options. Different size options allow you to choose one according to needs and requirements. On the other hand, there is no option to select a compact storage geyser as most storage geysers are bulky.
The lifespan of instant geysers is considered higher considering the little maintenance it demands to function ideally. In addition, there is no storage tank (they do have a small tank but not for storing water) in instant geysers which also contributes to its long lifespan.

Limitations of Instant Water Heaters

For the sake of an unbiased discussion, we must also discuss the disadvantages of using an instant water geyser. The following are some of these disadvantages.

Although instant geysers do the job a fraction of the time, they require a considerable electricity load. For example, while a typical storage geyser may be rated at 2kW, an instant geyser is rated at 4.5kW. Instant geysers require this tremendous power supply to transfer the maximum amount of heat in the shortest possible time. However, instant geysers do their job in mere minutes, negating these geysers’ high power requirement. Still, instant geysers put a lot of load on the system, which is a limitation that can’t be ignored.
No matter how fast and efficient instant geysers can get, they have a specific capacity limit beyond which they can’t function. For example, most instant geysers can heat only 3-6 liters of water at a time. This can result in frequent breaks in the water supply depending upon your usage. Furthermore, instant geysers take a few minutes before it supplies another load of a specific volume. Overall, this limitation of an instant geyser decreases the convenience of using it. Whereas a storage geyser heats 10-30 liters of water in one go, allowing you to finish your task without waiting in between the process.
When it comes to the price-capacity ratio, instant geysers fall short of storage geysers. You can get more water-holding capacity in storage geysers for the same price. Moreover, you have to set various things, including proper plumbing, to avoid any hiccups while using instant geysers. This increases the upfront costs of installing an instant geyser even further. Higher upfront costs are primarily because of the advanced components and powerful heating coils that these geysers contain.

Uses of an Instant Water Geyser

The following are some of the most common uses of an instant water geyser.

This geyser is ideal to be fitted and used in bathrooms and kitchens. The small capacity is suitable for small spaces, which requires less water.
The appliance emits no greenhouse gas in its working. Hence it can be used in an eco-friendly manner by all users.
This is the ideal water geyser if you have a small family.

Our Recommendation

As happens for every popular appliance, many reputed brands compete to bring the class products to the customers. It is the same for an instant water geyser as well. As such, it can be very confusing for the customers to select an ideal product from the lot.

But if you go by the popular opinion, the Bajaj Flora Instant Water Heater is one of the highest-rated products.

This instant water geyser has a 3-liter capacity and has a wattage of 3000-watts. The geyser is equipped with multiple safety features that resist overheating, dry heating, among others.

The manufacturer provides a 2-year warranty, and the body of the geyser is crafted with rust-free material as well.

When to get a storage Water heater?

The next in the comparison of instant water geyser vs storage water geyser is the storage water geyser. A defining feature of this variant is its increased capacity as compared to the instant water geyser. This increased capacity allows it to heat a greater quantity of water resulting in greater power consumption as compared to the instant variant.

Storage electric geysers work with the same fundamentals in place, but they utilize a storage tank to heat a massive quantity of water at once. However, storage electric geysers cannot heat the water immediately, although they can heat a good load of water in one go.

Unlike instant geysers, storage geysers are easy to repair and provide better usability, especially in commercial buildings. However, these geysers are used by large families to heat water in large quantities. Anyways, let’s look at the various advantages and drawbacks of storage geysers.

Benefits of using storage geysers

Just like the instant water geyser, the storage water geyser also has many advantages. The following are some of the many a customer can enjoy.

The storage water geyser is efficient and ideal in heating more quantity of water as compared to the instant water geyser. This makes it ideal for larger families and can be used for showering and bathroom use.
The capacity of storage water heaters is also ideal for commercial use where continued operation of geysers is required. They can store heated water for a longer period than instant geysers, making them ideal for areas that experience frequent power outages. Holding water for a longer time also makes storage geysers highly efficient as you won’t have to burn more electricity if you decide to use the geyser again.
Storage geysers are priced fairly reasonably when compared with instant geysers. Installing storage geysers is relatively easier and doesn’t require complex plumbing work. This combined reduces the upfront costs of storage geysers by drastic measures, making these easily accessible for the majority.

drawbacks of storage geysers

Now a storage water geyser does bring about certain disadvantages for the customer as well. Some of these are listed below.

Storage geysers demand less electricity as compared to instant geysers with the same capacity, making them economical in the short run. On paper, this may sound good, but it’s not. That’s because, unlike instant geysers, they take a significant amount of time to heat the water in the tank, which overall negates their energy efficiency. It also makes them less energy-efficient as compared to instant geysers (in most cases).
The larger tank capacity also contributes to the increased size of the storage water geyser as compared to an instant water geyser. This increased size makes it a bit difficult to fit.
Although a storage geyser can give you 8-12 years of reliable service, its lifespan is lower than that of an average instant geyser. Storage geysers can last up to 12 years. Meanwhile, on the other hand, instant geysers can give you over two decades of service if maintained properly.

Uses of a storage water geyser

The following are some of the uses of a storage water geyser.

The increased tank capacity and the uninterrupted water slowness of a storage water geyser makes it the ideal choice for larger families. It can be used in the bathroom for showers efficiently.
Storage geysers are perfect to use in commercial uses in factories.
The water storing characteristic of the appliance makes it possible for you to use the stored water throughout the day. Even when the water supply to the geyser is not activated.
Much like all modern appliances, a storage water geyser does not emit any greenhouse gas by its working. Hence it can be used in an eco-friendly manner.

Our Recommendation

Much like the instant water geyser, major brands compete to bring forth great products for storage water geysers as well. Truth be told, the storage water geysers are more popular with Indian customers than the instant variants. Hence it is pretty tedious for a user to select the ideal model.

Popular opinion deems the Bajaj New Shakti Water Heater as one of the highest-selling products in India for its amazing features.

This product has an impressive 15-liter capacity and is powered by a 2KW heating element. This heating system is very efficient, and the heater comes equipped with safety features that prevent overheating, dry heating, etc.

The manufacturer provides a 2-year warranty on the product and has crafted it with the most durable material and technology.

Differences between instant and storage water heaters

Which geyser has the highest capacity range?

Capacity, in general, is the amount of water a geyser can hold. With every manufacturer and every model of a geyser, its capacity differs. Capacity is the most important factor which separates instant geysers and storage geysers miles apart.

While an average instant geyser can hold about 6 liters of water, most storage geysers come with 20-50 liters of capacity. However, with higher capacity, the heating time suffers remarkably. That’s exactly why an average instant geyser can heat water way faster than any storage geyser of the lowest capacity.

Winner: Storage Geyser

Storage or Instant water heater – which one takes less space?

The size of a geyser determines how much space the appliance will take if you install it. And, With higher capacities come larger sizes and vice versa, making storage geysers way larger in size and instant geysers relatively smaller. The size of a geyser also determines its usability.

For example, instant geysers are ideal for domestic uses, especially in smaller bathrooms with fewer people living in them due to their smaller size. On the other hand, the large size of a storage geyser allows it to hold more water, and that’s where storage geysers excel remarkably.

Winner: Instant Geyser

Instant vs Storage Geyser : Power Consumption

The power consumption or wattage of a geyser is the amount of energy it consumes per hour. For example, the wattage of an average instant geyser is rated at around 3-4 kW. At the same time, storage geysers are available with 2-4 kW. To understand it clearly, let us consider two examples-

1. Bajaj Flora Instant 3 Litre Vertical Water Heater

The rated power of this geyser is 3000 watts or 3 kW. If it runs for one hour with 100% efficiency on a chilly winter day, it will consume 3 kWh of power. With an electricity tariff of Rs. 8/unit, it will cost you Rs 24.

2. Bajaj New Shakti Storage 15 Litre Vertical Water Heater

This storage geyser has a rated power of 2 kW that costs only Rs. 16 for running an hour under similar conditions to the previous Bajaj Flora Instant 3 Litre Vertical Water Heater.

Though power consumption of geysers depends on a few other factors like ambient temperature, the volume of water to be heated, we can say that storage geysers are better.

This significant difference in wattages of instant geysers and storage geysers impacts the real-world power consumption of the geysers and their operating costs. It’s highly recommended to purchase a geyser with a high BEE rating in either case.

Winner: Storage Geyser

Which water geyser heats up faster?

Both instant and storage geysers operate differently and thus take different times to heat the water. An instant water heater (geyser) heats the water in its heating chamber almost instantaneously, thanks to the huge wattage of the geyser.

Meanwhile, storage geysers heat a large volume of water in one go which takes time. As the technology advances, the heating time of storage geysers is slowly but steadily reducing.

Still, with its current level, a storage geyser of average capacity can take 15-20 minutes to heat a single load of water. An instant water heater, in contrast, takes mere seconds or minutes to do the job.

Winner: Instant Geyser

Instant or storage water heater – Which is more durable?

You can determine the durability of a geyser simply by observing how well it retains its performance despite heavy and rough usage. Both types of geysers (storage and instant) involve different components and use different approaches towards heating water.

As a result, storage geysers and instant geysers do not share the same durability. Thanks to the advanced mechanism and better-quality components, instant geysers are far more durable than storage geysers.

Winner: Instant Geyser

Which geyser is easier to use?

You can refer to it as the convenience of using the geyser. For example, instant water heaters require you to do nothing, turn the tap on, and you’re good to go, no additional steps to heat the water.

At the same time, storage geysers function differently and demand a proper setup to work ideally. Storage geysers also take around 30-60 minutes to heat the water in the tank. Instant geysers shine when it comes to ease of use.

Winner: Instant Geyser

Storage vs. Instant geyser : Price

Since instant and storage geysers do not share the same specs or operation, they are priced differently with comparable capacity. Storage geysers particularly excel in the pricing department as they involve less advanced components. Their installation cost is also far lower than that of an instant geyser.

Meanwhile, buying and installing a high-capacity instant geyser can be a bit expensive. For example, while a 3-liter instant geyser can cost you around Rs 3000, a 10-liter storage geyser usually costs less than Rs 6000. This is very affordable considering the water-holding capacity.

Winner: Instant Geyser

Maintenance of instant geyser and storage geyser

Recurring costs include the overall maintenance cost and electricity cost that a geyser demands throughout its life cycle. In that case, the quick action of instant geysers comes into play. Since instant geysers fairly live up to their title by heating the water almost instantaneously, although they have high wattage, they consume less power per usage.

In addition, instant geysers demand less maintenance and care, which contributes to their low recurring cost. Also, storage geysers can undergo frequent maintenance and are less power-efficient in the long run, unlike instant geysers. The recurring cost of storage geysers gets relatively higher in the long run than the recurring cost of instant geysers.

Winner: Instant Geyser

Which geyser has more lifespan?

Count the years of reliable service from a machine, and you’ll get its lifespan. Factors including the quality of mechanical components and the maintenance frequency are primarily responsible for deciding the lifespan of a geyser.

The average lifespan of an instant geyser can be between 12-15 years which you can stretch up to 2 decades with good maintenance. In contrast, storage geysers have a typical life expectancy of about 8-12 years only.

Winner: Instant Geyser

Best Uses of Instant and Storage Geysers

The best use of either type of geyser is a function of one’s needs and requirements. However, instant geysers are ideal for domestic use due to their small size and higher cost-efficiency in the long run when it comes to general usage.

However, since they can only supply a fairly limited amount of water in one go, you can expect frequent breaks in the flow if you use them extensively. So, that’s where storage geysers come into the picture. Since these geysers can hold a chunk of heated water in the storage tank, you can expect a seamless experience from storage geysers.

So, Which is better – instant or storage geyser?

A geyser or water heater as an appliance needs no introduction. In various homes in India, you will find geysers fixed in the bathrooms or the kitchens. Apart from conventional electric geysers, gas geysers are also available in the market.

To conclude this debate of instant water heater vs storage water heater, it would be reasonable to say that the best one varies for different requirements. Both these water heaters are unique and have been crafted using different designs and mechanisms. Their prices also depend on these functionalities.

Hence, as a user, you need to analyze your requirements and figure out which will be the ideal geyser for you. In terms of power consumption, storage geysers are better as they have lower electricity ratings. Storage water geysers are ideal for a large family. On the other hand, get an instant water heater if you are a couple or have a small family with kids.

Instant Vs Storage Geyser: Which is Better and Why?