At Service Tech, we realize deciding what type of water heater to purchase can be tricky. To assist you, here is a little information about the 5 main types of water heaters that you can choose from so you can decide which one best fits your needs.
The Tankless Water Heater (On-Demand Water Heater)
With no tank, the tankless water heater has super-heated coils that fill with water and heat water right when you need it. If you have a large family, the tankless water heater is able to produce hot water immediately. To ensure you never run out of hot water, you must size the tankless water heater to the size of your home and take into consideration whether the power source is electric or natural gas. Depending on what you need it could be costly.
Maintenance of Tankless Water Heater
Cleaning your tankless water heater at least once a year will prevent corrosion and remove mineral scale. If the parts are small, cleaning can be more difficult. The estimated lifespan of the tankless water heater is around 8–10 years.
Pros of Tankless Water Heater
Due to the fact that tankless water heaters only heat water on demand rather than waiting for existing heated water to be used, this option is very energy efficient. By purchasing the correct size heater, your home will have access to hot water 24/7.
Cons of Tankless Water Heater
Purchasing a tankless hot water heater is much higher than a more traditional style water heater. Larger gas lines or more power capacity than your home currently can lead to an expensive renovation project.
Heat Pump Water Heater (Hybrid Water Heater)
Heat pump water heaters use the heat from the air and in the ground to heat water. Usually, electricity is used to generate heat, but with the hybrid water heater electricity is only used to move heat from the ground to air to the water. Because the pump is on the top, you may need quite a bit of room for this water heater, sometimes up to eight feet of vertical clearance.
Maintenance of Heat Pump Water Heater
To prolong the lifespan of a heat pump water heater, you should clean it at least twice per year.
Pros of Heat Pump Water Heater
By choosing a hybrid water heater for your home, it uses up to 60 percent less electricity than traditional styles of water heaters. They are known to be very energy efficient and cost-efficient .
Cons of Heat Pump Water Heater
If you are limited on space, the heat pump water heater may not be the right fit for you. Due to the pump’s location being on top, up to eight feet of vertical clearance is a must have. The hybrid water heater will also not work well in colder environments because it creates heat by pulling it from the ground or surrounding air. Choosing this style is more expensive upfront, but becomes cost-efficient in the long run.
Condensing Water Heater
A condensing water heater can be the best option for homes that use natural gas for energy. Water is heated from the unused gas fumes in your home. A coil placed at the bottom of the tank allows gas fumes to funnel through resulting in minimal energy use.
Maintenance of Condensing Water Heater
If you decide to purchase this particular style, there is a tank and gas import valves you must clean. We recommend you clean a condensing water heater once a year.
Pros of Condensing Water Heater
The condensing water heater is the most energy efficient version for families who heat their home with natural gas. Due to this style requiring a large tank, there is usually plenty of heated water for families.
Cons of Condensing Water Heater
Smaller models of this style water heater are not common. A condensing water heater fits families best and is only suited for homes where natural gas is the main energy source.
Conventional Storage Tank Water Heater
A conventional storage tank water heater is the most popular style. Water is heated using existing water in the storage tank. Once the heated water in the tank is used, you will experience cold water. The tank’s insulation feature allows water to remain warm until it is needed. Two valves, the temperature control valve and the pressure control valve, are used to moderate the temperature of the water if it reaches over 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the most common type of water heater in family homes even though there is a limit on hot water that the tank can hold.
Maintenance of Conventional Storage Tank Water Heater
To increase the lifespan of this style heater, you must clean it regularly. Unlike other water heaters, this tank is constantly working so you should remove sediment and mineral scale, as well as reduce the amount of corrosion around twice a year.
Pros of Conventional Storage Tank Water Heater
This style of water heater is easy to install, common, and more affordable than other water heaters.
Cons of Conventional Storage Tank Water Heater
Unfortunately, the conventional storage tank water heater can only hold so much water at a time. It can take a couple of hours to fill up and reheat again. The bigger tank you purchase the more hot water you will have available at one time.
Solar Powered Water Heater
A solar powered water heater uses the energy from the sun to heat water. allows you to draw energy from the sun.
This style of water heater may be the most energy-efficient of them all and relies on Roof-mounted solar panels, which are used as the energy source and are transferred to a closed loop system which includes heat-conductive material, cause the water to heat up in the tank. If you live in sunny weather, this is a good option for you. This style has the ability to save lots of money. It is important to note however, this system often requires a backup plan for overcast days.
Maintenance of Solar Powered Water Heater
The tank of the water heater should always be cleaned in order to remove scale and prevent corrosion. It is also important to pay close attention to the solar panels because they are your energy source.
Pros of Solar Powered Water Heater
Solar panels are environmentally friendly and are energy efficient. Using a solar powered water heater saves money and can reduce your electricity bill tremendously during sunny months.
Cons of Solar Powered Water Heater
Solar powered water heaters are very expensive and the return on your investment is not immediate. If you live in weather conditions where there is little to no sun, this is not the style for you.
At Service Tech, we know that having a reliable water heater is crucial to your home or business. Call the professional experts today for your HVAC service, maintenance, or installation of your water heater.
