When you are selecting a new water heater for your home, there are many factors that you should consider. Some of these factors will have a significant impact on the unit’s initial cost. But they will also impact your long-term operating cost and your overall satisfaction with your hot water supply.
To make the evaluation process less overwhelming, we have created three primary categories that you will need to consider. And with the help of a Action Air & Plumbing professional, you will be able to select the perfect new water heater for your home after weighing your options in these three essential categories:
- Fuel
- Water Storage/Capacity
- Function
Selecting the fuel for your water heater might not be a choice. All water heaters are offered in gas or electric. But if your home only has electrical service, then it would be cost-prohibitive to purchase a gas model. Installing gas service to your home is likely to be very expensive.
Water storage is the option that includes conventional water heaters with a large holding tank. If you do not want a unit that stores water, then you will opt for a tankless water heater. These units only heat water when there is a demand for it. The capacity of your new water heater, conventional and tankless, will determine how much hot water you have access to at any given time. For this choice, a Action Air & Plumbing pro will help you evaluate your water usage and demand to select the unit’s correct size.
Function will determine if you want to have a single larger water heater to supply the entire house, or if you want multiple water heaters to supply the different areas in your home.
Fuel Pros And Cons
Gas Water Heaters
- These units are usually a little more expensive to purchase than an electric model
- They must be vented to the outdoors for safety
- They cost less to operate
- Electrical power failure does not affect a gas water heater
Electric Water Heaters
- These units typically cost less to purchase than a gas model
- They are easy to maintain
- They require no venting
- They usually cost more to operate
Water Storage Pros And Cons
A conventional water heater heats water in a holding tank and maintains it at heat. The amount of hot water that you have access to at any given time is limited by the capacity of the holding tank on a conventional water heater. When that water is used, you must wait for the unit to heat the next tank of water. These units are more cost-effective to purchase than tankless models, but the operating cost is much higher.
Tankless water heaters only heat water when there is a demand for it. The water is heated as it runs through your home’s water pipes. When sized correctly for your home’s hot water demands, a tankless water heater will supply all the hot water you need, unlike the limited supply of a conventional water heater.
Function Pros And Cons
You can opt to have a single conventional water heater or a tankless water heater to supply your entire home with hot water. Or you can opt to use multiple water heaters located throughout your home. In older homes with a conventional water heater, most homeowners choose to replace it with a similar unit. They might decide to purchase a larger or smaller unit based on their hot water needs. But a convention water heater is easy to install in place of a like model.
Tankless water heaters are much smaller than their traditional counterparts and can easily be installed in a cabinet or under a sink. This feature makes tankless units popular when building a new addition on a home, or adding a new bathroom. The small tankless water heater is remotely located where it is needed.
Clearly, there is a great deal to consider when investing in a new water heater, because you will be relying on it for the next decade or more. If you have been satisfied with your old unit’s performance, then a similar replacement is a reasonable choice. However, if your old unit did not meet your household’s hot water needs, it is time for a change.
Describing your lifestyle, the number of people living in your home, and your hot water needs to a Action Air & Plumbing licensed plumber is the best way to determine which type and size water heater will best meet your needs. To schedule an appointment with one of our pros, just call 806-787-6501. We offer appointments on the weekend and in the evening to work around your schedule. And all of the work performed by our team of licensed plumbers is backed by our full parts and labor warranty.
