Choose the Right Hot Water Heater

If you haven’t replaced your hot water heater recently, the number of choices available to you now will amaze you. To make the right decision for your home and your family when it’s time for a new one, it’s wise to know what types are available.

Conventional Storage Water Heater – This is the most common type of water heater. It’s an insulated storage tank that holds between 30 and 80 gallons of water. It can be powered by whatever service is already present in your home:  natural gas, liquid propane, or electricity.

How it Works : A gauge inside the tank reads the temperature of the water. When it drops below a preset level, the unit kicks on to bring the water temperature back up. While that guarantees hot water is readily available whenever you need it, the process of continual heating goes on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even when you’re sleeping or away on vacation. So, in effect, you’re paying to heat water even when it’s not in use.

Tankless Water Heater – Unlike conventional heaters, tankless water heaters heat water upon demand, promising significant energy cost savings.

How it Works: Tankless heaters heat water without the use of a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don’t need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. The downside is that tankless heaters can only accommodate one household use at a time, so if you’re running the dishwater, you may not be able to take a hot shower, which is why so many households have more than one tankless heater.

Solar Water Heater – A solar water heater features two parts: a solar collector and an insulated storage tank. Because they’re powered by the sun, they’re either installed on the roof or in the yard.

How it Works: Solar water heaters are typically described according to the type of collector and the circulation system. In South Florida, where the climate rarely dips below freezing, direct systems are preferable. Direct systems circulate water through solar collectors where it is heated by the sun. The heated water is then stored in a tank, sent to a tankless water heater, or used directly.

Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters – An electric heat pump water heater is also more energy efficient than conventional electric water heater. Mainly because it draws energy from the air to heat the water contained within a storage tank. An electric heat pump system is ideal in hot climates.

How it Works: A heat pump water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air and dumps it, at a higher temperature, into a tank to heat water.

If you’re interested in Raider Rooter’s professional recommendation, call us at 866.6RAIDER or email us. A skilled representative will be happy to answer any questions you may have, even schedule an on-site consultation. With years of experience servicing Broward and Palm Beach, our goal is to provide quality service at affordable prices.