Sunday, September 15, 2013

Buying A Replacement Hot Water Heater

By Carol Richardson


Without doing research, buying a replacement unit can be extremely difficult. To enjoy having access to hot water in your household, selecting the most suitable heater is important to meet your household needs. There are a lot of different types of water heaters available in the market nowadays. Do not hesitate to ask advice from a specialist if you need help in selecting a water heater.

Select a replacement unit right before your heater stops working. This will give you more time to check different water heater under no pressure. Always hire a professional to ensure proper installation without voiding its warranty.

Tank-style water heaters are the most common units out in the market. Storage tanks can hold twenty to eighty gallons of heated water and keeps it insulated all day. They may not be expensive, but they have higher operating costs overtime. Storage water heaters are much prone to corrosion if the sediments inside the tank are not drained and flushed regularly.

Consider buying a tankless unit if you want to save on energy costs. These heaters don't need to insulate water since they heat water only when necessary. With a continuous supply of hot water in your household, tankless units reduce energy consumption by 20-30%. Tankless water heaters cost more expensive since they last longer than other units.

There are heaters that don't generate heat directly when producing hot water. These units are called heat pump water heaters that move heat from one place to another in order to generate warm water. These units are 2-3 times more efficient compared to conventional heating systems.

Solar water heaters, on the other hand, uses solar energy to generate enough warm water inside the household. However, depending upon the climate condition, you may not have sufficient hot water running in your taps during cold seasons. These units have higher upfront costs, but they are cheaper to operate in the long run.

It is important to look for a unit which is energy-efficient, since water heaters rank as the third most-used appliance in every household. Read the energy guide label and look for the peak hour demand capacity to know how much warm water it produces during peak demands.

Choose a unit with a high energy factor to avoid spending too much on your electricity bill. Look for the energy factor of the unit to know its rating efficiency. It is important to consider maintenance, insulation and other operating costs before buying a replacement unit.




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