We might not use our heaters too often in South Florida, but there’s one type of heating system we all need working for us year-round: the water heater. Since your water heater will be working so hard for you, you want to make sure it’s the right fit for your home. However, water heater specs may not be something you feel comfortable picking out on your own.
In fact, there might be more options for your new water heater than you’ve imagined. If you need help sorting through the options, the best bet is to call your local plumbers. In the meantime, we want to help you out with a guide into the water heaters available today.
Conventional Tank Water Heater Sizing
Conventional water heaters are large tanks that store hot water throughout the day so that it’s always available to you. While there are other more efficient water heaters available today, tank water heaters tend to cost the least, and they are reliable and hardworking anyway.
What’s most important with a tank water heater is that you get one that is the right size for your home. If a water heater is too small for your household, you’re going to notice. You may run out of water quickly during a shower, or feel hot water disappear if someone is using it elsewhere in the home. If it’s too large, you might use more energy than you need to, heating a large amount of water your family won’t be using.
Ask a technician which size of tank water heater is right for your home. Consider other aspects of hot water heater performance, such as placement and efficiency rating. Finally, keep in mind that an electric tank water heater will cost a lot more to run than a gas hot water heater, with standard use. If you need to use electricity to power your water heater, consider one of these following options.
Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heaters
The problem with conventional electric tank water heaters is that they require a lot of energy to run. They are running throughout the day, as are gas tank water heaters, but electricity costs more per unit in most areas than natural gas does.
A hybrid heat pump water heater uses significantly less energy. While it also runs throughout the day, it does not have to generate heat constantly. Rather, it moves heat from the outside of the tank to the inside. This process requires a lot less energy, so while the cost investment is higher, the savings over time is worth it.
Tankless Water Heaters
Finally, there’s the tank water heater alternative you’ve probably heard the most about. Tankless water heaters are not right for every home. In larger households, you may need more than one, at a much higher cost upfront.
Still, tankless water heaters significantly cut back on energy and fuel usage. It seems unnecessary to have to run your water heater throughout the day and night when you only really need hot water a handful of times throughout the day. A tankless water heater runs on demand only, when you open a hot water tap in the home, cutting back on run time in a huge way.
Contact Butler Plumbing for water heater installation and service in Boca Raton, FL. Just tell your friends the Butler did it!
