A Guide to Choosing the Right Type of Water Heater for Your Home
Like most appliances in the home, water heaters are essentials for daily living, providing the hot water for showers, washing machines, and dishwashers. Today, it’s a modern convenience for most homes and usually forgotten until they break down and need to be repaired or replaced. With the advent of technology, there are several selections available from the past conventional water heater models.
Pay Attention to Key Features
Characteristics in choosing the right water heater involve energy saving qualities, physical size within the structural limitations and water capacities to service the household. Each of these features affects the installation, especially with the new developments for fuel choices. It’s always best to work with a professional, they are experts in the field, they know the current market products, and more important they know what will work best for your home.
The Different Types of Water Heaters
In the past water heaters were replaced with the same model, today each of the tank choices offer a different level of value based on the property. The most common type is the conventional storage tank with a full reservoir tank of hot water, usually set on a block and strapped into position. Tankless water heaters are the answer for many with limited space, taking up less space without a reservoir tank and heating water as needed. Alternative energy models such as solar use the sun to provide hot water taking advantage of utility cost savings.
Considering the Heater's Location
Believe it or not, many homeowners don’t think about the size or how it relates to water capacity for the home. Choosing the wrong sized water heater can cost you dearly when it comes to the amount of the energy needed to heat the water. To maximize the water heater, you need to understand the efficiency rating. This is where a professional plumber is valuable in determining the best energy efficient model and assures that it fits into the allocated space.
Is the location a residential or mobile home?
What are the height and width measurements?
Are there any permanent obstacles, such as a wall or ceiling?
Always Keep Fuels in Mind
Another important factor when choosing a new water heater is the fuel or energy source that’s available to the home. Whether you choose electrical, gas, propane or other alternative fuels each of these choices can affect the unit cost, annual maintenance and the model’s efficiency performance. Be sure to ask about energy and environmental rebates and warranties to offset a higher cost.
Not sure what water heater works for your Fort Lauderdale home? Call C&D Plumbing Inc at (954) 758-8169, and get the best advice from the professionals.