Maybe your current water heater needs to get replaced, or you are building a new home and need to get one installed. In either case, you need to know the different types of water heaters from which to choose. Each type of water heater has its own benefits, so you will need to find the one that will best suit your needs.
To help you find the right water heater for your home, here are three types of water heaters and the advantages of each.
1. Storage Tank Water Heaters
This type of water heater is the most commonly used. Storage tank water heaters have proven to be very dependable through the years, and some people choose to get this kind because they are familiar with how it functions.
Besides having the ability to provide hot water immediately, other advantages of storage tank water heaters include:
- They are relatively inexpensive to install.
- They are easy to repair and maintain.
- They do not require a minimum flow rate.
Storage tank water heaters are available in sizes that hold anywhere from 28 to 100 gallons of water. The right size tank depends upon the number of family members in your household. For example, a family of four may need a
65 to 75-gallon
tank.
2. Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless, electric, and sometimes called on-demand water heaters have become increasingly popular in recent years and are used in many homes throughout the country. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on-demand and you can have more than one installed in your home. If you need to, you can have one tankless water heater for each appliance.
Some other advantages tankless water heaters provide include:
- They have a compact design that enables them to be mounted on the wall.
- They will never run out of hot water.
- They typically use less energy than storage water heaters.
As with storage tank water heaters, you will need to ensure you choose the right one that suits your household. Tankless water heaters vary based on their flow rate, which is measured in gallons per minute. Most units can heat
4 to 8 gallons
of water in one minute, depending on the starting temperature of the water.
3. Hybrid Water Heaters
This type of water heater has not been around that long and is just beginning to gain popularity in the water heater market. Hybrid water heaters switch to using standard electric resistance heat when hot water is in high demand.
These energy-efficient water heaters come equipped with different operating modes which allows you to maximize energy efficiency. You can also put it into sleep mode while you are away from home or set it to default mode for day-to-day use.
Some advantages of hybrid water heaters include:
- They release fewer greenhouse gases, making them environmentally-friendly.
- They provide continuous amounts of hot water.
- They can reduce overall heating costs.
Buying the right sized hybrid water heater depends on your household size. They typically come in 50, 66, and 80-gallon capacities. Hybrid water heaters also have a first-hour rating, which is how much hot water it puts out in one hour. Because this type of water heater is rather large, you will need to ensure you have adequate space for it.
Each of these types of water heaters has its own advantages, and you'll need to find the one that is best suited for your household. If you are in need of a brand-new
water heater,don't hesitate to contact Ernie's Plumbing & Sewer Service today. We can install the right water heater for your home, and we offer a 24-hour service.