Water Heater replacement Options!
Is it time to replace your water heater
? You might be tempted to replace your water heater with the exact same model. But did you know that you can consider several smart water heater replacement options for your home? Here are five water heater types for you to explore. Aim to find one with the ideal balance of cost, efficiency, and lifespan.
Storage Water Heaters
The most common type of water heater is a conventional storage model. These devices come with tanks that hold anywhere from 30 to 80 gallons of hot water. They’re also available with just about any kind of fuel hookup, so you can operate them with gas, electricity, oil, or even propane.
While storage water heaters are popular, they aren’t the most energy-efficient. Heating dozens of gallons of water 24 hours a day demands constant energy, which translates to higher utility bills. Storage water heaters are some of the most affordable models on the market, though they need to be replaced every 10 years, on average.
Tankless Water Heaters
Also known as “on-demand” systems, tankless water heaters don’t come with storage tanks. In fact, they don’t keep any hot water on hand. Instead, they heat water as your family needs it for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. That means tankless models are some of the most efficient water heaters.
One potential downside to tankless models is their low flow rate. They produce less hot water per minute than conventional models do, which means tankless water heaters can’t support a hot shower and a washer at the same time. At Plumbing By Jake, we often recommend that homeowners with greater hot water needs consider purchasing two or more of these units.
Tankless water heaters have time on their side, since they last about twice as long as conventional storage models. That makes their relatively high cost easier to work into your household budget.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
Also known as hybrid water heaters, these innovative devices combine a heat pump and a water heater. Because of their hybrid design, these models take up more space and have a higher price tag than conventional water heaters. They also must be installed in relatively warm spaces since they transfer heat from the air into the water, similar to the way that standard heat pumps work.
Heat pump water heaters have some very positive attributes, though. They’re remarkably efficient, using an average of 60 percent less energy than a conventional electric water heater. That means you’ll recoup the extra cost of buying this higher priced model in a short period of time.
Condensing Water Heaters
If you have a large family or a high demand for hot water, a condensing water heater could be a smart option. Most have a capacity of more than 55 gallons, and all require a natural gas hookup.
Though they’re somewhat similar to conventional water heaters, condensing water heaters’ smart design makes them more efficient than their counterparts. These models capture exhaust gases that most water heaters wouldn’t be able to use. Instead of allowing these gases to simply escape from your home, condensing water heaters use them to heat cold water for all of your household needs.
Solar Water Heaters
If you’re looking to increase your home’s energy efficiency in a big way, a solar water heater is a smart choice. These devices rely on the sun’s energy to warm the water for your family. To do so, these models have a solar collector that’s placed outdoors and an insulated storage tank that holds hot water.
You can choose from either active solar water heating systems, which rely on pumps to circulate water from the solar collector and into the tank, or passive solar water heating systems, which rely on gravity. Both types last for 15 to 20 years and require homeowners to do some basic maintenance to ensure that these systems run smoothly.
When it comes time for a water heater replacement in your home or you have related plumbing repairs, our team is at your service. Call Plumbing By Jake for all your plumbing needs today: 877-841-8872.
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