If you’re in need of finding the best hot water heater, especially if your home has been operating with a more vintage water heater for many years, then it is vital to find something that is top of the line.
If you feel a little bit lost on how to find a decent hot water heater, don’t worry– we put together a guide to finding the best option for your home.
Check out our guide to finding the best hot water heater below!
How to Choose the Best Hot Water Heater For Your Home
Any and all permanent appliances in your home can make or break your property’s value.
Choosing the right hot water heater is important to the quality and worth of your home.
We consult with homeowners before making a purchase decision so the best heater is chosen for your specific situation.
Types of Hot Water Heaters
There are several types of hot water heaters:
○ Storage tanks – This is by far the most common model. Water is stored in a tank and kept hot through the use of electricity, oil, propane, or gas. When water needs to be used, it flows out of the tank through the top of the machine while colder water is flown in through the bottom to be heated.
○ Tankless – This type of hot water heater is warmed by gas or electricity when a faucet is turned on. Think of it as an “instant” hot water heater that doesn’t store water.
○ Solar-powered – Solar hot water heaters are run through a tank fitted with a solar absorbing device connected to the unit. It’s similar to a storage tank water heater, only it is much more energy efficient.
○ Heat pumps – Electricity is used to transfer heat to various faucets around the home. This type of hot water heater can be built into a broader system of home heating and cooling.
Storage tanks and tankless hot water heaters are the least energy efficient. While the cost of the unit isn’t as expensive as its energy-efficient counterparts, the overall cost to heat water on a daily basis will end up more costly.
Solar heaters and heat pumps, while investment to set up, will facilitate less energy consumption.
Understanding Energy Consumption
Choosing a new hot water heater involves much more than just purchasing a well-reviewed product. The cost of heating your home’s water doesn’t stop at the initial investment of your water heater– it also includes the monthly cost of heating that water.
It’s important to consider how much and how often your home consumes energy.
Do you live in a fairly cold climate or have a large household? If so, you’re likely consuming a fairly large amount of energy to heat your water daily.
This matters because there are many options available for water heaters based on what kind of household it will be used in.
There are three factors of a hot water heater to consider:
○ Recovery efficiency – how efficient is the heat being applied to the water?
○ Cycling – how much heat is lost when the water is run through the heater?
○ Standby loss – how much (percentage) of heat is lost every hour in the stored water?
These three factors are taken into the account for EF ratings that one can find on any hot water heater product.
An EF (energy factor) rating is used to help buyers choose the most energy-efficient hot water heater for their home. This rating typically ranges from 0.5 to 2.0.
For more information, feel free to contact us!
