When’s the last time you thought about your water heater? If the water’s hot when you turn on your faucet, it’s probably been a while. But what really do you know about it? Do you know how old or energy efficient it is? Do you know whether it’s operated by gas or by electric? Do you know the capacity, or at what temperature it’s set? Do you know that a water heater is the third biggest consumer of energy in any home?
Is your water heater delivering cold water?
As you can see, there’s a lot to know besides how many
showers you can take before the supply of hot water is used
up. If you’re running out of hot water that means the
capacity of your water heater isn’t meeting your
household’s hot water needs. When that happens, there’s
also a good chance that it’s not as energy efficient as it
could be.
If the water heater in your home is getting on in age, or
if you’re constantly running out of hot water, of if you’re
looking to cut your energy costs, it’s probably time to
consider replacing it. There are many options available to
consumers now, not only in terms of style by also in terms
of fuel types.
For example, besides electricity and natural gas, a water
heater can be fuelled by propane, solar energy, geothermal
energy and fuel oil. When you have a choice of fuel, it
makes sense to compare not only the costs of the unit but
also the cost of the daily fuel it’ll consume while in
operation. You might find that a unit’s lower operating
costs offset potentially higher purchase/installation
costs.
When it comes to the unit itself, you have many options
besides the tall, cylindrical white unit most people have.
You’ll also find conventional storage, solar, tankless
(also called on demand or instantaneous), tankless coil,
and indirect water heaters.
Which water heater will you choose?
When choosing a new unit there’s a lot more to consider
than just the water heater’s selling price. You’ve got to
know your daily water needs so you can purchase the right
size. You’ve got to know the types of fuel that are
available in your area and the operational costs of each.
And you should know how energy efficient the unit itself
is. Take a look at the tips we’ve put together. Hopefully,
they’ll help you better understand your options so you can
choose the right water heater.
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