Things to Consider When Choosing a Water Heater
Most Firestone homeowners won’t start looking at water heaters unless their current one fails. Because no one wants to take a cold shower, they are often in a hurry to get a replacement in the soonest possible time. Some would just settle for anything that is available in the store.
In order to help you make an informed decision, it is best to do some research before you are faced with an emergency purchase. If the time has come for you to buy a new Firestone water heater, then we urge you to read this blog post before you head out and buy a new one.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing a new water heater.
Type of water heater
Storage tank water heater
If you use a lot of hot water and need an immediate replacement, then this one’s for you. Conventional storage water heater offers a ready reservoir – from 20 to 80 gallons of hot water.
Tankless water heater
Tankless water heaters heat the water directly without the use of a storage tank. The unit only heats water as you use it. This means you’ll never run out of hot water, but you may have to wait for a few seconds before hot water comes out.
Heat pump water heater
If you are looking for something that is less expensive to operate, then this would be a great option. This type of water heater works by pulling heat from the environment and then pumping it into the tank. If you decide to install it in a hot garage or attic, it will suck out some of the heat. The conventional coils will function only when the heat pump can’t satisfy the demand.
Gas or electric
Electric water heater uses electric resistance recoils to heat water, while a gas water heater uses the heat from burning fuel. About 40% of homes in the United States uses electric water heater, while 60% are gas-fired.
Energy efficiency
Heating water accounts to approximately 15% of a home’s energy use. With the rising cost of energy, homeowners are looking for ways to save money.
Among the water heaters on the list, heat pump water heater is has the lowest operating cost. In fact, they can be 2 to 3 times more energy efficient than conventional water heaters. Since tankless water heater only heats water at the time it is being used, it is also more energy efficient than traditional ones.