Things to consider when buying a water heater for your household

It’s every homeowner’s dream to have a water heater that’s both cost-effective as well as reliable. Choosing a water heater can be quite a hectic process. The following set of tips should make it a lot easier to choose a water heater for your household:

1. Consider the Fuel Source

To avoid the extra costs you may have to incur by switching from one fuel source to another, choose a water heater that’s compatible with your home’s existing fuel source. The following are the different fuel types to choose from:

*Gas or Propane

These types of water heaters use burners to heat water and more energy efficient compared to electric water heaters. They are however more expensive than those powered by electricity and need a significant amount of air circulation space around them free from inflammable objects/materials. Their sizes vary from 30-100 gallons.

*Electricity

Electric water heaters use one or two replaceable heating elements for heating water. They are also less expensive than other types of water heaters. Their sizes vary from 28-100 gallons or more.There are a number of high-efficiency electric water heaters available in the market such as the Rheem 491315G7 315 Litre 3.6kw – 1st Choice Hot Water.

*Heat Pump or Hybrid

These types of water heaters use energy from the air (can be aired from outside or inside the room where it’s located) to heat water. They are larger than electric water heaters and can either be added to the existing tank or bought as a one unit together with a water tank. Although they are a rather expensive option, they are energy efficient which means lower energy bills.

2. Consider the type of water heaters

The following are the different types of water heaters that you could choose from.

*Tankless

Also known as On-demand water heaters, these types of water heaters don’t store heated water,but instead heats water as you use it. They are a more energy efficient option compared to the traditional storage tank water heater. If you won’t need to have hot water flowing at more than two points at the same time, then this would be a good option for you.

*Storage Tank

Being the traditional type of water heaters, they are the most popular ones.Unlike the tankless ones these ones store heated water in an insulated storage tank that’s ready for use. They come in various fueling options such as liquid propane, natural gas and electric models. Their energy efficiency depends on the type of fuel used.

*Mobile Home

As the name suggests, mobile home water heaters are designed to provide hot water for mobile homes. They can be fueled by either gas or electricity. You’ll need to consider the location as well as budget while selecting the right mobile home water heater.

*Utility

Also known as Point-of-Use water heaters, they are commonly preferred for providing hot water to outside buildings, garages or shops. Their size usually varies between 2.5 to 19 gallons.

3. Capacity

Tank size should be one of the major considerations you should have in mind when choosing a water heater for your household. Determine how much water your family will need so you can choose a tank that will comfortably suit your family’s needs. Another factor you should consider is the amount of water that the water heater will be able to provide in an hour. The under sink type has a smaller capacity and is great to be used in the kitchen sink or a single toilet”.

4. Available Space

You should choose a water heater that can be comfortably accommodated in your house. If you choose to purchase a hybrid water heater, make sure you have extra space to allow it to function effectively.

Purchasing a water heater is an investment that should last you many years to come. With these useful tips, you’ll be able to enjoy a hot shower knowing that you made the right choice.