How to know what to buy on water heaters used to be cinch. When there was no longer hot water in the house, it was a sure bet that the water heater was bad. A phone call to the local gas or electric company brought them to the house to make the swap and then the cost of the tank and replacement service were added to the monthly bill.
Now, there are many new kinds of heaters that are priced from less than $20.00 to almost $10,000. They may have differing installation requirements from expert installation, remodeling the kitchen or bathroom, to simply plugging in a piece of equipment and setting it on the floor. They come tankless or with a tank and in a range of sizes.
The first question usually is whether gas, electric or even propane is the best. With the new energy efficient heaters and the federal government offering tax breaks to those purchasing them, both gas and electric are viable possibilities. Consider the size of the home, the number of people in the household, appliances that need hot water, to determine the demand. The higher the use, the larger the tank needed. Gas heats almost immediately, but tends to cool down more quickly. Electric tanks may take longer to heat, but stay hot for a longer time period.
The new tank-less varieties are considered to be more energy efficient as the water is heated only when used. Costing anywhere from less than $100.00 to over $1,000, the tank-less system can be installed under the sink, on a single faucet, or at the point of entry into the home. Tank systems also come in a variety of sizes, shapes, styles and costs. Most tanks operate on the principle of heating water in the tank and keeping it at a particular temperature. When the water is used, more enters the tank to be heated.
Recently invented new types of tank systems including solar tanks, and geothermal units. Both draw on heat from the environment. The geothermal system has a compressor that gathers heat from the surrounding air, and then passes it through condenser coils that wrap around the tank. Cool air is released into the home which during the summer is an advantage.
How to know what to buy on water heaters nowadays requires some study and effort. There are more options than there have ever been. Check out the possibilities before making a decision, and think about the energy savings.
