6 Things to Consider When Choosing a New Water Heater
Whether you’re tired of hot showers that suddenly run cold or you have an old water heater running up your electric bill, a new water heater can make a world of difference. Choosing a new water heater is probably not the most exciting thing you can think of, but we can at least make the process quick and painless for you!
How to Choose a New Water Heater: 6 Things to Consider
Consider what type of water heater is best for you.
There’s several different types of water heaters, but the two most common ones are storage water heaters, which heat up a bunch of water and then hold onto it until you use it, and tankless water heaters, which heat the water up as you use it. There’s also other options like solar water heaters and heat pump water heaters, but they tend to be a little rarer. When considering which kind of heater is right for you, think about the kind of usage you’re anticipating, as well as the fuel sources readily available to you. While storage and tankless water heaters both use electricity, propane, fuel oil, and natural gas, all of which tend to be widely available, solar water heaters obviously require a steady light source, while some heat pump water heaters run on geothermal energy.
In terms of usage, you want to consider how many people live in your house (or regularly visit), as well as the number of appliances you tend to run on a daily basis. Think about things like dishwashers, washing machines, baths, and showers, as well as anything else you use hot water for. Any type of water heater can see to your household needs if it’s sized properly, but a tankless one is specifically designed to never run out of hot water, whereas a storage water heater eventually will if you run it long enough. Normally this isn’t a problem, but you can find yourself running out of hot water if you see a sudden uptick in usage –– for instance, if you have guests over, which increases the number of showers happening in your house.
Figure out what size of water heater you need.
Avoid the fight over who has to take a shower last by getting the right size water heater for your house. Sizing requirements vary depending on the type of heater, but you’ll want to consider the number of people in your household, their hot water usage patterns, and how often you’ll have competing needs for hot water. (For instance, do you regularly end up having to take a shower while the dishwasher is running?) All this will impact the size of heater you need.
Speaking very broadly, you’ll want to make sure that any storage tank heater you get has a capacity of 40-50 gallons, while a tankless water heater with a 8-10 gallon per minute (GPM) rating will do about the same thing.
Look for energy-efficient options.
Old water heaters were major energy hogs, newer models tend to be much better about that. Look at the Energy Factor (EF) rating on whatever water heater you’re considering. The higher the number, the more energy efficient the water heater, and the less money you’ll spend on water heating costs.
Consider any installation requirements.
Certain types of water heaters require specific things when it comes to installation. For instance, a tankless water heater might have specific electrical or ventilation requirements. Or, if you’re looking for a large tank heater, you have to make sure you have room for the tank. Make sure you look over the requirements for each heater carefully and make sure your home’s infrastructure can actually support that kind of water heater
Compare brands, warranties, and maintenance.
Finally, make sure to take a look at reviews for the specific brand of water heater you’re considering and see whether they have a reputation for being reliable, and what their customer service is like. Look specifically at warranties for the water heater you’re considering, and what kind of customer service the company can provide in case there’s a problem with your water heater down the road. (And if they can’t help ... we can!)
Review options and compare them with your budget.
Of course, the deciding factor may very well be your budget, and fair enough ... but when you’re crunching those numbers, be sure to think about the use cost over time. For instance, While tankless water heaters tend to have higher upfront costs, they can be more energy-efficient, potentially leading to savings in the long-term.
Still not sure what option to go with?
Ask us!
We’ve provided full-service plumbing to the Twin Cities area for 40+ years, so we’ve seen a water heater or two in our time. Find out more about our electric water heater and gas water heater services and get in touch today for a quote!
