So you’re buying a new water heater since your old one has finally given up the ghost. You’re probably thinking of purchasing the exact same type of water heater, the one that has served you for a long time. However, it wouldn’t hurt to explore other options, especially when there are a lot of power source choices for water heaters these days. In fact, exploring all your options before making a selection is a wise thing to do. Here are some of the water heater power source choices available in the market today that you might want to check out first.
Gas (Storage)
Of all the water heaters being sold today, a gas heater with a storage tank is considered the most traditional of all. Chances are, your old water heater was of a gas-powered storage type, and you want to have more of the same if you were satisfied with the way it delivered hot water for your entire household. If this is your choice, we recommend choosing a high-efficiency model, which could help you lower your water heating bill by about seven per cent.
Gas (Tankless)
One issue many home owners have with gas-powered storage water heaters is that they often run out of hot water for a variety of reasons. A tankless gas water heater, on the other hand, presents no such problems. Aside from being more effective at delivering hot water anytime you need it, a gas-powered tankless water heater is also more energy efficient and can actually lower your water heating bills by about 30 per cent.
While a tankless gas water heater may require a higher upfront investment, it has a longer shelf life. Perfect for home owners building a new home or conducting a major renovation, tankless gas water heaters take up very little space, unlike gas-powered storage water heaters.
Gas (Condensing)
Yet another great option for those who are constructing a new home or renovating an existing one is the gas condensing water heater. Unlike a traditional storage tank, it’s better at keeping the flow of hot water more constant. Even better is the fact that your water heating bills will also be reduced by 30 per cent. Like tankless gas water heaters, it’s a bit more costly than traditional storage tanks. In addition, it must have enough space for special venting and a condensate drain.
Electric heat pump
A conventional electric storage water heater usually costs a lot to run, but your water heating costs can be reduced dramatically if you have a heat pump to power the thing. Unlike traditional electric water heaters which use electricity to heat water directly, heat pumps only use electricity to operate a pump that circulates around the water heater system a refrigerant that picks up heat from the air and transfers it to the water.
Solar energy
Of course, the sun being a renewable energy source, water heaters that run on solar energy have it over all the other types of water heaters when it comes to energy consumption. As long as your home gets plenty of sun, a solar water heater has a virtually unlimited supply of energy. The downside, of course, is when there are times of extended cloudiness or bad weather, in which case you have to install a backup storage water heater. A solar water heater also requires a significant upfront investment, but the benefits are numerous.
Whatever choice you make, we at Beez Neez can help with the installation of your new water heater. Contact us, and we’ll immediately send our best man for the job to your home.