This article is part 1 of Selecting a New Water Heater.
Many homeowners wait until their water heater fails before shopping for a replacement. Because they are in a hurry to regain their hot water supply, they are often unable to take the time to shop for the most energy-efficient unit for their specific needs. [...]
This article is part 2 of Selecting a New Water Heater.
Storage water heaters remain the most frequently used type of water heater for residential purposes.
A variety of fuel options are available for conventional storage water heaters—electricity, natural gas, oil, and propane. Ranging in size from 20 to 80 gallons (75.7 to 302.8 liters), storage [...]
This article is part 3 of Selecting a New Water Heater.
It is possible to completely eliminate standby heat losses from the tank and reduce energy consumption 20% to 30% with demand (or instantaneous) water heaters, which do not have storage tanks. Cold water travels through a pipe into the unit, and either a gas [...]
This article is part 4 of Selecting a New Water Heater.
Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. To heat water for homes, heat pump water heaters work like refrigerators in reverse.
Heat pump water heaters can be purchased as integral units with built-in [...]
This article is part 5 of Selecting a New Water Heater.
A home’s space-heating system can also be used to heat water. Two types of water heaters that use this system are tankless coil and indirect. No separate storage tank is needed in the tankless coil water heater because water is heated directly inside the [...]
This article is part 6 of Selecting a New Water Heater.
Through specially designed systems, energy from the sun can be used to heat water for your home. Depending on climate and water use, a properly designed, installed, and maintained solar water heater can meet from half to nearly all of a home’s hot water [...]
This article is part 7 of Selecting a New Water Heater.
As with any purchase, balance the pros and cons of the different water heaters in light of your particular needs. There are numerous factors to consider when choosing a new water heater. This publication has already described different system configurations. Some other considerations are [...]
