Installing a new water heater in your Indianapolis area home can give you plenty of hot water and help you save energy, too. Before you purchase a water heater, carefully consider the different fuel and heater type options.
- Gas-fired heaters cost more up front, but they generally cost less to operate. They must be vented outdoors, but some models feature sealed combustion and power venting for enhanced safety. Storage-tank gas water heaters will also keep operating during a power outage.
- Electric heaters are easier to maintain and less expensive, plus they don’t need to be vented. They heat water faster, and these units typically have higher Energy Factor (EF) ratings compared to gas-fired models.
- Tank-style water heaters, whether gas or electric, can heat and store between 20 and 80 gallons of hot water, so you can choose a size that matches your expected usage. The energy efficiency of these units will vary based on the type of fuel, the capacity and the brand, and they typically provide enough hot water for an entire house, as long as regular water usage patterns are maintained.
- On-demand water heaters use either a gas-fired burner or electric element to heat water as it passes through the unit. These tankless water heaters are typically placed on a wall near a single point of use, though whole-house models are available as well. Many homes that are going tankless will pair up a whole-house model with one or more point-of-use units to make sure all water needs are anticipated. Although more expensive than tank models, on-demand units can use up to 30 percent less energy to operate.
When choosing a water heater, also look at its EF rating and recovery speed.
- The EF measures efficiency when converting energy into heat and how much heat is lost during storage. More efficient units have a higher EF.
- The higher a unit’s recovery speed, the less time it takes to heat a full tank of water.
Today’s water heaters offer many helpful features that are worth considering. These include a self-cleaning feature, which helps combat sediment and lime accumulation, and an automatic shut-off valve for increased safety on gas-fired models.
If you need assistance with choosing a new water heater, please contact the experts at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We’ve been helping residents of the Indianapolis area with their home comfort needs for over 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
