Helpful Tips for Choosing the Right Water Heater
When it’s time to buy a water heater, you want to ensure that you’re getting the best system on the market for your home. Your water heater is a heavily used appliance in your home. Your water heater accounts for a whopping 17% of your home’s energy usage. This means that this one appliance consumes more energy than all the other appliances in your household combined.
Knowing Your Options
The first step in deciding what water heater is right for your home is educating yourself about the various water heater systems. The most common types of water heaters are the standard tank and tankless water heater systems.
Hot Water Heater Tank: Also referred to as “storage” water heaters. This is the most common type of water heater and the unit you think of most often. They’re not considered the most energy efficient unit due to their heat loss but they’re dependable because they always have a source of water ready.
Tankless Water Heater Repair & Installation by Choice Plumbing Orlando Tankless: Also called “on demand” heaters. These are the type of water heaters that homeowners upgrade to when they’re concerned about energy efficiency. These units can decrease your energy usage by 20-30%. It’s called “on demand” because no water is stored—the system turns on only when necessary to provide the water required and then it turns off.
Factors to Consider
Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself:
How much water does my family use?
If you live in a two-person household, you won’t need the same water heater as a person living in a five-person household. Each person in your home uses 20-3 gallons of hot water on a daily basis. The FHR rating (first hour rating) is a helpful number that helps determine how well the unit operates during a busy time period.
What type of fuel do you currently use?
Do you currently heat your water through gas, oil, or electric means? The type of fuel used by a hot water heater plays a key role in operating costs. If you’d like to make a switch to a different type of fuel, it’s most convenient during an upgrade.
How long would you like the system to last?
Your water heater’s life expectancy is a huge factor to consider. The average water heater will last 10 to 15 years but other types like tankless and solar can last as long as 20 years.
How much space does this new unit need?
It’s more than likely that your new water heater will be bigger than your current one due to federal regulation laws implemented in the past few years. A standard size water heater needs space to store 40 gallons worth of water, external housing, and room for servicing.
Still Need Help? Call Choice Plumbing
If you’re still undecided about what water heater is best for your home, our team at Choice Plumbing Orlando can help you choose. We’ve expertly served the Greater Orlando Area for over 10 years. We understand the particular needs of homeowners here due to our unique Florida climate.