Heating water in your home is labeled an essential and large expense after heating the home itself. There are options in the market that can make it economical depending on the type you choose to install. Water heaters can be electric, gas or solar and can also come with a tank or can be tankless. All these options come with their advantages as you’ll see in this article. Here, we will outline water heaters into two sections first by power (i.e. gas, solar or electric) and second, by type (i.e. tank or tankless).
Benefits of Gas water heaters
1. Availability
When the electricity is out, your gas will still run. In addition, when you run out of gas, you simply have to dash to store to purchase more, or if your home is connected to natural gas, chances are you will never run out. Hot water is always accessible to you.
2. Economical
The initial installation of a gas water heater tends to be on the higher side financially, however, in terms of use, gas is usually cheaper than electricity. Your monthly bills, especially if using natural gas, will often be lower than average annual electricity costs.
3. Heating pace
It is common knowledge that gas heats up faster than electricity does. This is the same in many gas water heaters. When compared to its electric counterparts, they can heat water faster and efficiently – this is known as the recovery rate.
Benefits of Electric water heaters
1. Convenient
It goes without saying that electricity is convenient when compared to gas. Most electric water heaters are equipped with thermostats that turn on as needed.
2. Installation
Electric water heaters are said to be easier to install because the technician doesn’t need to implement extra venting. They simply connect the wiring to your power source. Less labor also means less cost to you.
3. Availability
If your home uses electricity for anything, you can have an electric water heater. In addition, as long as the electricity is running, your hot water will always be available. There is no running out or dashing to the store with electric water heaters.
Benefits of solar water heaters
1. Highly efficient
As the name suggests, this water heater uses the sun for power. If you live in areas of minimum sunlight, then this one may not be for you.
2. Installation
Installation and advice from a qualified professional is an integral thing when it comes to solar water heaters. Solar panels are not created equal meaning there are designs that may not be conducive to some geographical areas. Some solar panels do not work well in freezing temperatures for example, regardless of the presence of the sun. The benefit here is in the fact that once installed, maintenance is minimal.
3. Lifespan
Solar water heaters can last up to 20 years if maintained annually by a qualified technician.
4. Economical
While solar panels can be expensive on a large scale, they can be quite economical on a smaller scale such as your home. Solar panels are usually purchased depending on how many people live in your home, or how much water you are looking to heat. Monthly utility bills are also significantly less since you are using free energy – the sun.
5. Tax rebates
Depending on where you live, the government may actually pay you for the reduction of your carbon footprint. There are some online tax tools
Benefits of conventional water heaters (heaters with a tank)
1.Lifespan
Tanks tend to be in good condition for up to 15 years.
2.Installation
It is easy to install and also easier to replace should you need to. The one issue with a tank water heater is that it is constantly heating and re-heating water to keep it at a certain temperature. This means your utility bill is affected and can go up in the colder season for sure.
3.Water supply
Since the hot water is stored in the tank, there will always be some in reserve. So, in case you need to run out for more gas or there has been a power surge, you can be assured that you have some hot water available. Up to 50 gallons of water can be stored in these tanks.
Benefits of tankless water heaters
1. Energy efficient
Tankless water heaters heat the water on the go. There is no reserve water being heated and reheated making them energy efficient.
2. Space saving
No tank, no extra space in your home needed. Many can be installed on a wall.
3. Lifespan
Tankless water heaters are designed to last longer than traditional water heaters. Some up to 20 years or more. Because of this, they also tend to have longer warranties.
4. Cost
They cost more to install but they are financially advantageous in the long run. This is due to its energy efficiency.
Now that we’ve outlined the various types of water heaters in the market, one recurring suggestion is to purchase a high-efficiency option. The term ‘high-efficiency’ simply means that a particular machine uses a low amount of energy to perform its duties. In terms of a water heater, the less the energy used to heat the water to a pre-specified temperature, the higher the efficiency. High-efficiency water heaters are expensive to buy, however, reducing energy cost is a benefit to you and to the environment. This is because:
– Energy efficiency usually means lower utility bills. The high-efficiency water heater will pay for itself and save you money in the long run.
– They tend to reduce the risk of Carbon monoxide poisoning. This is because the air does not flow back as with some water heater types.
– The environment will thank you. Energy-saving water heaters cause less pollution and are often developed using recyclable material.
– Depending on where you live, you may qualify for a tax rebate simply because you are contributing to saving energy.
So, there you have it, everything you need to consider in order to buy and install a water heater in your home. Regardless of the option you choose, we suggest sticking to a high-efficiency model. They will usually have an ENERGY STAR®logo on them, so they are easy to spot.