Choosing a new water heater is determined by several criteria that will influence your decision on which type you will choose for your needs. The first will be the fuel/energy source–gas or electric. The second will be the size or capacity of the water heater or heaters for your needs. The third will be and normally falls under; what is in your budget? The fourth and fifth are the energy-efficiency and what is the warranty/lifetime of the water heater.
Purchasing a New Hot Water Heater
Purchasing a new water heater is an important decision. It is only made every ten to fifteen years. Before you purchase a new water heater, let Pro Craft Plumbing help educate you with your decision. We will be happy to help explain the options to you, that best suit your needs.
Need Service on Your Existing Water Heater?
Call Pro Craft Plumbing, we’re here to help. We can flush and rebuild your electric water heater with new heating elements and thermostats. Or if your gas water heater needs to be flushed and burner cleaned with a new thermocouple installed. If your water heater isn’t working correctly or is leaking, give us a call. There is always a licensed plumber available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to take your call. We will be happy to send out a certified plumber to proficiently rectify the problem.
“We’re here to work around your schedule”.
Types of Water Heaters
Storage Water Heaters are also known as conventional/standard water heaters. They are the most common type, but not the most energy efficient. They keep a storage tank of hot water hot at all times. They can be electric or gas.
Tankless Water Heaters are also known as on demand/instantaneous water heaters. They only heat water when you need it, thus saving on energy costs. They can be electric or gas.
Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters are also known as a hybrid water heater. They actually use the heat that is in the air to heat the water. A heat pump delivers more hot water, up to 33% faster than a standard electric water heater. Hybrid hot water heaters normally pay for themselves in 3-4 years and potential save the home owner $3,000.00 over the lifetime use of the water heater.
Another factor to consider is a big whirlpool bathtub or rain fall shower heads since they will also use more hot water. Knowing these factors can help you or a professional size your hot water heater correctly.
Tankless Electric or Gas Water Heaters you will need to know the flow rate of the unit. The flow rate is calculated by how much hot water will be used by each fixture in the house. Typical fixture flow rates are measured in “gallons per minute” (GPM). To determine the GPM you need to add all major fixtures GPM’s up to determine what your utmost demand part of the day is. Once you have determined the maximum GPMs required for your tankless water heater, you will need to calculate the temperature rise. The temperature rise is the difference of the incoming water (average groundwater temperature) to the outgoing water of the heater; 120 degrees Fahrenheit (manufacturers’ recommended setting). Knowing these factors can help you or a professional calculate the size of the tankless, or the number of tankless water heaters you will need to adequately supply your needs.
Sizing your Water Heater
Conventional Tank Electric or Gas Water Heaters–you will need to know what the “First Hour Rating” (FHR) is. The FHR tells how much hot water a water heater can provide in its first hour. Taking that into consideration, you must know how many family members the water heater needs to supply at the utmost demand part of the day.
Energy Efficiency
Purchasing an energy efficient water heater means paying more up front and saving more in energy costs over the lifetime of the water heater. Homeowners or business owners that use large quantities of hot water will financially benefit from more energy efficient hot water heaters. The “Energy Factor” (EF) is the number that specifies how efficiently a water heater operates. It is a number between zero and one. The closer it is to one, the more efficient the hot water heater operates. Pro Craft Plumbing always recommends a more energy efficient hot water heater. A hot water heater can be the third largest energy user in a home or small business.
