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March 15, 2020 • In Plumbing • 12 Min Read
By Haller Enterprises
Very few appliances are designed to last indefinitely. That’s especially true of your water heater. Regardless of the specific water heater type you have, you can bet you’ll be replacing it at some point. Fortunately, many quality water heaters on the market last a long time.
Buying a new water heater is similar to many big-ticket item purchases. You’ll research issues like what’s a good water heater capacity and what type of water heater is best for your home. Then you’ll need to choose between electric vs. gas water heaters and a tankless vs. tank water heater.
To help with these questions, what you really need is a clear and concise water heater buying guide. That’s exactly what you’ll get by reading on.
Choosing a new water heater is a serious issue, but it’s a decision that you’ll hopefully only make every 10-15 years. That’s the average lifespan of storage water heaters, which are by far the most popular and conventional water heater used in America. Consumer Reports also states that nearly 20% of your home’s energy costs come from your water heater.
Efficiency is important in today’s world where energy costs continue to rise faster than income. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) realizes this and recently introduced energy consumption regulations called the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA). This act took effect in 2015 and regulates minimum energy efficiency standards for all water heater types.
This is good news for you as a consumer. Today’s water heaters are far more energy efficient than appliances manufactured in the past 20 years. Now, you have the choice to buy an economical water heater designed for budget-conscious consumers. You can also choose more expensive water heaters with larger capacities and greater energy savings.
You’re in the driver’s seat when buying a water heater. However, like with other purchases, you’ll want to do your homework. Choosing a new water heater follows these logical steps:
You might want to make a checklist or pro/con matrix to determine the parameters you need to stick to. Once you know what you don’t want, can’t have or aren’t able to afford, it’ll be easier to narrow down options and make your best choice. Let’s look at these five water heater selection steps in more detail.
Determining your fuel source should be fairly straightforward. If you’re in a water heater replacement situation, you’ll likely be restricted by what fuel source your current water heater uses. Changing fuel sources in existing buildings might be expensive, impractical or impossible.
However, if you’re starting from scratch with a new home, you’re wise to choose a fuel source that will remain economical and readily available. This might be the opportunity to invest in advancing technology fuel sources that have long-term savings and are environmentally responsible. Different fuel sources available are:
There are two main water heater types. The first and by far the most popular is the conventional storage tank heater. You’ll recognize one right away because they’re bulky and usually placed in the open where the tank is accessible. The second water heater is the less-obvious on-demand or inline flow heater that gives you a constant and instantaneous hot water supply.
Each water heater type has its pros and cons. Deciding on what type depends on several factors. The biggest consideration is the hot water demands of your family. It also depends if you’re simply replacing an existing unit and the specific infrastructure is already in place. And then it goes to your fuel source, capacity requirements and your budget. Let’s look at the two water heater types in more detail:
Water volume capacity mostly refers to storage tank water heaters. Storage capacity varies according to tank size. It’s measured in gallons of water with small tanks being in the 30-40 gallon range, mid-sized tanks holding 50-60 gallons and large storage tanks containing up to 100 gallons.
Gallon capacity isn’t the main criteria for gauging hot water capacity. This is truly measured by a storage tank’s first-hour rating or FHR. That tells the tank’s efficiency, or how much hot water it can deliver in its first hour starting from a full-capacity load. The FHR capacity should match what your typical hot water requirements are at peak periods. The federal government’s Energy Guide FHR sizing rates recommend:
On-demand, tankless systems have an unlimited ability to produce hot water provided the supply maintains a steady pressure. This should never be an issue in civil systems on a city water supply. Homes on wells and cisterns may experience hot water drop if their supply runs low, but this is a matter of water use discipline.
Tankless water heaters don’t have a gallon capacity in storage requirements. Rather, their capacity gets restricted by the amount of flow through your home’s pressurized water lines. Typical flow rates get measured in the number of gallons passing through a fixed point in a one-minute period. An average on-demand heater should supply about 3.5 gallons of hot water per minute to be effective.
One clear advantage of on-demand water heaters is how compact they are. Most heaters are small enough to fit in tight spaces like inside kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Some large instantaneous heaters get installed in crawlspaces or closets. It’s important to get them close to the end-use place as possible for maximum heating efficiency.
There’s no doubt that storage tank heaters take up more space than on-demand units. That’s not a problem if you have the room, such as a basement or dedicated mechanical room. But it’s challenging to put a large-capacity water heater in cramped quarters.
If you want the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of a storage tank heater but are space-challenged, consider using a lowboy or point-of-use compact tank. They’re made for low areas like tight crawlspaces or garage sites where codes call for elevated tanks. If width is at a premium, but height is less restricted, you may want a slender, taller tank.
Budget restrictions are a fact of life for most people. It’s tempting to go with the lowest price, especially when being surprised by a sudden water heater failure. But that might be a stop-gap measure and a short-sighted solution.
Assuming you have a clear choice about water heater type, fuel, capacity and space, you’re always best to go with the highest-quality appliance you can afford. It’s almost always the case of getting what you pay for. Here are some thoughts about dollar value when choosing a water heater:
Haller Enterprises is your best choice for a professionally installed water heater that will give you years of trouble-free service. Whether you’re looking for a conventional storage tank water heater or a high-tech on-demand product, Haller Enterprises knows what brands give you the best warranty and energy efficiency. We know what you need to make sure your family never runs out of hot water.
Haller Enterprises gives you friendly, professional service at the best possible price. For over 30 years, we’ve served the Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Lebanon Water, Chester County and Quakertown regions of Central PA and beyond. Learn more about our water heater installation services today, or contact us directly with your questions.
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