When it’s time to install a new water heater in your home, you have a variety of options. You can choose between gas and electric or tank and tankless. Plus you have to consider water heater efficiency ratings to potentially save money on your utility bills.
But you don’t have to make all of these decisions alone, because our team is here to help. You can call us to schedule your water heater replacement in Vinton. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about your different options for a new water heater so you understand the basics.
Gas vs. Electric Water Heater
First, you need to decide whether you want a gas or electric water heater. If you don’t already have gas service at your home, an electric water heater may make the most sense. But if you do have gas service, gas water heaters are known for being a little bit more energy efficient compared to electric water heaters.
This is because the process of gas heating is much more efficient since the open flame can heat water quickly. The average water heater will have a lifespan of anywhere from 10-15 years. Electric water heaters can last a little bit longer since the components don’t wear down quite as quickly as the ones in a gas water heater.
Tank vs. Tankless Water Heater
After you’ve decided between gas and electric, it’s also time to decide whether you want a tank or a tankless model water heater. Tankless water heaters are often more energy efficient, especially if you select a gas-powered model. They also provide a nearly endless supply of hot water. As long as you have a water source leading into your home, a tankless water heater can provide hot water on demand.
Tank water heaters on the other hand have a limited water supply. However, you can get a larger tank to fit your needs if you have a larger family and need to have more hot water at any given time. Tank water heaters tend to be better if you plan on using hot water at multiple sources at a single time. This is because they can keep up with the demand of providing hot water in more than one place.
A tankless water heater may not be able to do the same since only so much water can be heated on demand at a time. Of course, if you have a higher demand, you can also get a small, backup tank water heater to meet your hot water needs.
Water Heater Efficiency Ratings
All water heaters come with efficiency ratings to help you understand how well the system uses both water and either electricity or gas. Keep in mind that it is important to compare these efficiency ratings between like water heaters. For example, you want to compare gas water heaters to gas water heaters and tank water heaters to tank water heaters.
This means that you should not compare a gas tankless water heater to an electric water heater. Instead, you need to compare similar models to one another to decide which one is more energy efficient and meets your needs. This is because the various kinds of water heaters operate so differently that there’s not really a way to accurately compare them across the entire spectrum.
We can help you make the best choice for water heater installation. Rely on the experts at W.C. Butler Heating and Air Conditioning and schedule an appointment today.