After years of using your water heater, you may find that it has problems, leaks, rusty or discolored water, or decreased overall heating capacity. If your heating system is getting older and you are wondering which heating system is suitable for your requirements, you have come to the right place.
While this article focuses primarily on replacing a heater that is causing problems, you may have noticed that your current heater is not heating the water to the desired heating temperature. In this case, your heater is likely not sufficient to meet your heating needs and you will need to invest in a larger tank. This could also be a good time to reconsider using a different heating system.
One of the biggest decisions you will have to make is whether you want a tank style heater or one without a tank. Depending on your usage, Commitment to reducing your carbon footprintand demand for household capacity. If you are in the home heater market, there are a few things you should know to aid you in making a decision.
What is your budget
The first thing you need to know is that a tank storage heater won’t last as long as a tankless system. Although some tank systems work well up to 6 or 8 years of age, tankless heaters can last up to 20 years. This is partly due to the fact that Tankless models do not have to operate continuously and therefore have a longer lifespan.
In terms of tankless heating, those who use gas as a fuel source last twice as long as electric heaters. Because of this, most of them will work with natural gas or propane. If you currently have a tank heater and want to increase the size, keep in mind that you will need space – both for the tank and the space devoted to a larger ventilation system.
Is your space limited?
For households with limited space, heating without a tank may be more suitable. Since lowboys or short water heaters are shorter and wider and fit into less convenient rooms, e.g. B. under cupboards, space for an option without a tank is definitely not a problem. If you need or want a tankless water heater, but your demand includes more than 5 people, an alternative is to invest in two heaters running at the same time.
How big is the household?
If the number of people in your household – and therefore people who might need water in an hour – is less than 5, a water heater might be very suitable for you. However, in households of 5 or more people, the water flow would not be able to keep up with this capacity.
There are some guides out there that can help you calculate how much water your household needs based on the people living in the house and an assessment of the average peak water usage. Since water heaters don’t have the storage capacity to draw from, calculating this number is critical to assessing whether the flow rate, calculated in gallons per minute (GPM), can meet your needs. Some faucets to judge during your peak time including sinks, tubs, dishwashers, washing machines and of course showers.
Are you energy conscious?
For those consumers who are aware of their carbon footprint, this can greatly influence your decision on eligibility. The specialists behind it https://www.thinktankhome.com/storage-type/ point out that tankless models often achieve 99% efficiency, making them ideal for consumers. In addition, some companies claim that tankless models reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.
Both of the above images support tankless models as high-energy choices that only heat water when it is needed. The tankless style does not waste energy keeping the tank’s stored water hot as it does with a tank system. When hot water is required in a tankless system, a heat exchanger works very efficiently and within seconds.
Things to watch out for
For tank heaters, you can choose between some recommended devices and models using the numbers below. First, the energy factor rating indicates how quickly energy is converted during storage and how much heat is lost during storage. In second place is the rating for the first hour, which – starting with a full hot tank – shows you how many gallons of hot water your device can deliver in an hour. This number needs to be above your maximum household consumption as your heating system should be able to handle times of high demand.
For tankless options, you should know the recovery rate, or how many gallons of water can be heated per hour. Checking the device’s performance before buying it will allow you to choose one that suits your needs and one that you won’t regret shortly after installing it.
You may have initially thought that choosing a water heater was an easy one, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. There are many subtleties that will affect your decision and it is recommended that you seek professional assistance to guide you.
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