Looking for a new water heater? Trying to figure out the best water heater to buy? Maybe your current one is on its last legs or you’ve simply outgrown your old unit. Chances are the technology, options and accessories for water heaters have changed since your last purchase.
The size of your family, the utilities in your area and the space available for your water heater all play a role in determining how to choose a water heater.
Storage tank water heaters are the most common type of water heaters. These units have an insulated tank where water is heated and stored until it is needed. You can choose from electric, propane and natural gas hot water heaters. Natural gas and propane water heaters normally use less energy and are less expensive to operate than electric hot water heaters of the same size.
Storage tank water heaters are designated by the amount of water they hold, in gallons and you’ll need to choose the right size based on the number of people you have in the household. Another consideration is the recovery rate. The greater your demand, the higher recovery rate you need.
When you buy a water heater, look at the energy efficiency and yearly operating costs before you decide which one is right for your needs. If you have a highly efficient boiler, you can consider installing an indirect water heater. The combination of these 2 will give you the cheapest and most efficient way of heating water especially during the winter months.
You will also need to know the dimensions of the space where your water heater resides. If your hot water use increases and you need to upgrade to a larger tank size, it may be necessary to run plumbing to a different area so the new, larger unit will fit.
Small storage tank water heaters, known as point of use, utility or portable water heaters, are all good choices for adding hot water to out buildings, shops or garages.
It is possible to completely eliminate standby heat losses from the tank and reduce energy consumption 20 to 30 percent with tankless water heaters also known as Instant hot water heaters which do not have storage tanks. This results in a direct saving of energy, as no extra storage tank is required to store the hot water or maintain the temperature of the water. The energy saved turns directly into dollar savings for you and also reduces harmful impact on the environment.
Electric tankless water heaters are very small in size and can be installed almost anywhere, even under a sink. Further these tanks require very little maintenance with only periodic inspections for rust and water leak.
The Tankless gas water heaters, has a very complex venting and combustion requirements along with a pipe for inlet of the gas and water source. Hence, installation is an expensive process, especially when the tank has to be retrofitted in an existing building.
Some companies like Rinnai and Bosch has units that can be installed outside the home that do not require venting.
While tankless gas water heaters are more economical because the cost of gas is approximately one-third that of electricity, these tanks have to be inspected frequently to ensure that there is no gas leak and performance is good.
One important thing to note is, any water heaters repair dealing with gas connections should be done by the local gas utility company or a qualified and licensed plumber. Work done on natural gas connections by an untrained and unlicensed person is dangerous and most likely in violation of local regulations and building codes.