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Archive for the ‘Water Heater’ Category

In most homes your second most largest energy user is your water heater. So finding the most efficient systems would be a wise choice when shopping around for a new water heater. Generally the most efficient systems available are going to be the gas fired type. So if you currently have an electric water heater but have natural gas available then you will probably save a lot of money by switching to a gas burning water heater. Electric units are also not as environmentally safe since it is fed by coal burning power plants.

The sizing of the water heater can play an important part in what heater type you should be looking for. You want your water heater to provide enough hot water during the peak times of the day for hot water use. For hot water heaters that use storage tanks the amount of hot water it can provide would be based on the “first hour rating”. You products guide should state what first hour rating is has.

The lifespan of most water heaters is around 10 to 13 years. They all can vary in costs depending on the fuel type. The best rule of thumb on price of unit and installation is that the more efficient it is the more it will cost up front. But in the long run you will end up saving money by going with the more efficient unit.

Storage Water heaters are by far the most common used or found water heaters in the world today. You can find them in sizes from 20 gallons to 80 gallons or larger. These type of water heaters are fueled by electric or gas and keep water in a tank at a maintained temperature. The storage water heaters have insulation built in around the tank that help keeps the water warm and makes the unit more efficient. Today you can find many new energy efficient models that are almost as good as the tankless models. These type of water heaters also tend to be cheaper for installation and unit cost.

Tankless water heaters( Demand Water Heaters) do not have storage tanks like the ones your used to seeing. Instead tankless water heaters use a burner or electric element that heats water only when it is needed or demanded. With this you will never run out of hot water and can take as many hot showers as you want. With these type of hot water heaters you may see a decrease in water flow and will need to use more efficient faucets and shower heads. Using or switching to a tankless water heater could get you possible tax credits and reduce your utility costs by 15 percent. To qualify for a tax credit you must have a tankless water heater with and energy factor at least .80.

Several brands that you can choose from are:

Bosch Aquastar
Paloma
Noritz
Rheem
Rinnai
Takagi
Bradford White
Infinion
Eccotemp
Navien
Toyotomi
Monitor Products

So you’re looking to buy a propane water heater? Well there are many ups and downs to buying and using a propane water heater. They are the same when it comes to heating your water but have different costs when it comes to running them. Depending on where you live you can end up saving money using propane over electric.

Propane water heaters can be more efficient than electric heating. Electric water heaters actually cost people about ¼ to 1/5 of their yearly electricity costs. You can find water heaters in two different types. You will see the tankless water heater which costs more, and the traditional water heater that has a 50gal tank. If you can afford it you should go with the tankless since you never run out of hot water as you do with the models that use tanks.

There are some things you need to consider before investing into a tankless propane water heater. You must make sure that your home can handle the demand for it. You will most likely need to have a large in ground tank installed on your property unless you have it fed to your house by lines. Most houses though will require a tank usually installed in the back yard that you can have filled monthly as needed. They are perfectly safe and only are exposed on the top were the propane company can refill it.

Propane water heaters that have the storage tank actually heat water faster than the electric designs. This is due to the fact that you actually have a flame and the heat is direct. So your time for replenishing your hot water does not take near as long. For constant hot water you should go with the tankless hot water heater.

If your building a new home it’s much easier to install than if you have an existing home but even then you can switch to a propane water heater with no that much of a hassle. The only thing is that for most people you will have to install a tank in your yard. Which most are built to be underground so that they don’t become an eye sore. All in all propane water heaters are the way to go if you have the option. With electricity costs going through the roof now you will save your money over time and enjoy more hot water. Just make sure you do your homework and get what is best fitted for your needs.