Choosing The Right Water Heater For Your Home
Hot water is essential to every home.
Here are the things you need to know about the three popular types of heaters before you make that purchase.
Traditional Storage Type Water Heater
This is the most common type of water heater. It is a storage tank that uses either electricity or natural gas to heat the water. In some cases, liquid propane or oil may be the heat source. This type of water heater typically stores from 30 - 80 gallons of heated water.
Inside the storage tank is a gauge that is constantly monitoring the temperature of the water inside. When the temperature drops too low, the heating unit kicks in and returns the water to the proper temperature.
This process continues 24 hours a day, whether you are using hot water or not. Maintenance, at regular intervals, will help to maintain the efficiency of the water heater. You will need to drain the heater twice a year to eliminate sediment buildup, and check the pressure valve to make sure it is working properly. The lifespan of this type is 10 - 15 years.
Tankless Water Heaters
This is another popular choice. A tankless water heater has no storage tank. Water is heated on demand. This is more cost effective because you are not heating large quantities of water. However, the flow with this type is very low, moving only 2 - 5 gallons per minute.
This type of heater cannot operate more than one appliance at a time so some homeowners buy multiple heaters. The downside is this type is twice the cost of a tank heater. Also, you will have to get a plumber in at least once a year to flush the system of sediment. Their lifespan is about 20 years.
Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters
This type is powered by electricity, but this is supplemental to the heat it draws from the air. It has a storage tank similar to traditional water heaters and maintenance is the same, except for the additional step of changing the air filters on a regular basis.
This type is best suited for warm climates because it is using outside air for most of the heating. Electric heat pump heaters are more costly than traditional to install but less costly to operate.
Ever Vernon home is different. Call Water Heater Medic at (860) 896-3342 to find the right water heater for you!
