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- By James Wisler
- Water Treatment
- [otfliker]
Water heater replacements are a big purchase for homeowners. Choosing the best new water heater largely depends on your household’s needs. We can help you make a good decision by asking a few important questions that narrow the choices down.
First and foremost, energy consumption is a factor that most people will take into consideration when looking at their options. The water heater is one of the top three sources of energy consumption in the average home. In addition, old or inefficient water heaters will increase the monthly utility bill even further. If the goal is to have the lowest energy bill possible, then the water heater should use natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas instead of electricity.
Another thing to consider is how much hot water the household needs. Homes with a large soaking tub, whirlpool tub, or air tub need large amounts of hot water to fill them. Teenagers also tend to use a lot of hot water on a regular basis. If there are younger kids in the home who will become teenagers during the lifetime of the water heater, it would be a good idea to plan accordingly.
Tankless water heater’s are best used for heating water on-demand. In other words, there is no stored hot water. Instead, the tankless water heater will heat water as it is needed. Because of the way they work, tankless heaters are significantly more efficient as opposed to tank water heaters.
Tankless water heaters also tend to last up to twice as long as tank water heaters. Even though they may have a higher upfront cost, this will be mitigated over time, as they will not need to be replaced as often. In addition, there is no need to worry about running out of hot water during times of increased usage. If everyone in a home needs to use hot water in a short time period (such as on a weekend when everybody is getting ready at the same time), tankless water heaters will continue to provide sustained hot water as-needed.
Some households that use a lot of water may want the efficiency of a tankless water heater but may not have the option to convert their home. In this case, high-efficiency tank water heaters are a good solution. They can deliver large amounts of hot water with a higher BTU, and they can be retrofitted in multiple locations throughout the home. One thing to keep in mind with high-efficiency tank water heaters is their life expectancy: 8 to 12 years (as opposed to 15 to 20 years for tankless models).
If you’re a homeowner that would like to figure out which water heater would be best for your household’s needs, give us a call at (540) 352-4262 or email us. We will ask you all the important questions so you can make an informed choice.
