1. Repair or Replace
Many consumers don't spend a lot of time thinking about their water heaters until something goes wrong: the flow of hot water slows or stops, the unit starts making new and strange noises, or puddles suddenly appear under the unit. Water heaters usually last eight to twelve years, but can last longer or shorting depending on water quality, maintenance, environment, and luck. There are a number of problems that can cause a water heater to stop functioning that can be fixed, including: a broken electric heating element or a leaking drain valve or pressure-relief valve. However, keep in mind the cost of a new water heater will be $250-$600 (plus labor). Before you spend money to repair an old water heater that may keep breaking, you should get a reputable plumber to diagnose your water heater's problem and evaluate its general condition. He can help you decide whether to repair or replace it.
2. Get Help or Do it Yourself?
Unless you are a plumber or have experience installing major gas or electric appliances, we strongly recommend that you use a qualified professional to install your water heater. A qualified service professional can also purchase a water heater on your behalf, and some of the best water heater brands only sell to service professionals (not direct to consumers). There are many service providers to choose from and we recommend that you get at least 3 quotes to make sure you are getting a fair price for the work to be done. There are also reputable retailers like Home Depot, Sears, and Lowes that sell several of the top brands of water heaters and will also provide an expert to install the unit.
3. Fuels Cost/Efficiency
Natural gas heats water more quickly and efficiently than electricity, so if natural gas is available to your home we recommend that your next water heater be natural gas. Economically, this is supported by a 2005 Department of Energy report that rated residential energy sources by the average dollar cost per million BTUs of heat they produce. Natural gas was found to be $15.13 while electricity was $27.26. You need to take into account your actual costs of natural gas and electricity (which vary regionally) and the rise both natural gas prices and electricity since 2005. However we think that most analyses will favor natural gas. Natural gas works well for storage tank water heaters and on-demand tankless water heaters. If you can't get natural gas to your home, then you'll have to use electricity.
4. Brand
There are a wide variety of brand choices when it comes to purchasing water heaters. The most popular brands of storage tank water heaters are Rheem, GE, and Whirlpool, though many brands that may be less well known to you, like AO Smith and Bradford White, have solid products and great reputations with plumbers. The most popular tankless brands are Bosch, Rannai, and Noritz. A number of water heater companies will not sell directly to the public, as they believe that only an experienced plumber can properly and safely install their products.
5. Storage Tank Water Heater or Tankless On-Demand Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are the single greatest innovation in water heaters in decades. The appeal of tankless water heaters is that you can save money by not constantly heating the water in your tank during periods when you are not using hot water. The downside of tankless water heaters is that can only deliver 2.5 to 3.5 gallons of hot water per minute, and this does not meet the Peak Demand Usage of many households. Now several of the major manufacturers (including Rheem and Noritz) have developed units that are designed to overcome this shortcoming. These tankless models are designed so that multiple tankless water heaters can be installed to work in unison: when one unit reaches its maximum flow, the next unit automatically begins to function.
However, storage tank water heaters continue to be the best-selling water heaters in the market. They are simple, designed to operate for years with minimal maintenance, and not very expensive.
When making a decision to purchase a new or replacement water heater, it is best to research your options, analyze your household's hot water usage patterns, and consult with a qualified professional to determine if a storage tank water heater or a tankless water heater will best meet your needs.
6. Capacity for Tank Heaters
In calculating the capacity of the water heater you'll need in your home, there are three factors to consider: Demand, Peak Water Usage, and First Hour Rating.
- Demand is determined by how many people live in your home and how many ways can those people simultaneously use hot water (number of baths and showers, sinks, and if your home has a dishwasher or washing machine).
- The other factor is Peak Water Usage. Does every member of your family bath within a short period of time each day, and is that the time that dishwashers or washing machines are operated? When family members bathe, how many tend to take hot baths or showers?
- Once you calculate your household's Peak Water Usage, you'll want to look for a water heater with a First Hour Rating that meets your needs. First Hour Rating is the calculated amount of hot water a fully heated water heater can deliver in the first hour. The Minnesota Blue Gas has a list of water-related activities (with the volume of water each activity requires) and instructions on how to use it to determine the minimum First Hour Rating you should look for in a hot water heater (http://www.blueflame.org/datasheets/waterheater.html).
Please keep in mind that unless you have very regular guests or guests who stay for extended periods, it is most economical to plan hot water for the actual residents of the home, and adjust schedules when you have guests.
7. Mid-Steel or Stainless Steel Tank
The water in a hot water heater tank is heated to a relatively high temperature that is set by the home owner. The water is stored in the tank awaiting use and reheated when the temperature drops. When hot water is used, it's drained from the top of the tank and replaced by a layer of cold water that is pumped into the bottom. The temperature drop in the tank is registered by a thermostat, which starts the heater at the bottom of the tank. Storage tanks must be constructed to withstand high water temperatures and pressure, constant temperature changes, and they also have to protect against corrosion.
Mild-steel tanks are protected from the effects of water corrosion by a lining of vitreous enamel, which is composed of one or two layers of spun glass. Mild-steel tanks are vulnerable to being corroded by an electrolytic cell, a result of a common reaction of the hot water to copper water pipes. Mild-steel tanks are protected from the effects of the electrolytic cells by a magnesium rod which is place inside them inside them. The magnesium rod corrodes first, but which you need to replace every few years or the rod will become ineffective and the corrosion will begin to affect the tank. Mild-steel tanks usually have five- to 10-year warranties.
Stainless steel tanks are resistant to water and electrolytic corrosion, but they are more expensive to buy than mid-steel tanks. Stainless steel tanks generally last longer and require less maintenance than mid-steel tanks. They usually carry a 10-year warranty.
8. Capacity for Tankless On-Demand Water Heaters
A tankless on-demand water heater saves energy by heating water only as it is needed. These units can provide hot water in unlimited amounts, but it can only provide it in a limited volume. Most units are rated to provide a flow of 2.5 to 3.5 gallons of heated water per minute. These units are a good choice for anyone whose demand doesn't typically call for hot water at more than two points at a time. If you're Peak Water Usage (see explanation in Capacity for Storage Tank Water Heaters) of hot water is higher than 3.5 gallons per minute, consider purchasing a storage tank water heater that meets your needs. You might also consider the fairly expensive option of installing multiple tankless on-demand water heaters to work together.
9. Size and Shape
If you are considering increasing the size of your water heater, changing from electric to gas, or making other significant changes to your water heater, you may run into problems fitting your new water heater into the space occupied by your old water heater. A qualified service professional will know the space required by each kind of water heater, and he will be familiar with the building codes in your area. If there is a problem with the kind of water heater you want fitting into space you have allocated, the service professional will be able to suggest alternative locations for the water heater. He might also suggest a water heater that has a different shape and dimension, like a low-boy or shorty water heater, so it can fit into the original space.
10. Ventilation
Natural gas water heaters run on combustion, and require ventilation (to safely ensure an adequate supply of air reaches the water heater and that waste gases are ventilated from your home). Unless you are very knowledgeable and experienced in installing appliances, you should work with a qualified service provider.
11. Electrical Current
Electric water heaters do not require ventilation, but may require your electrical system to be modified to meet their demands for electricity. Tankless on-demand water heaters, in particular, require high voltage and often require electrical modification to the home prior to installation. Unless you are very knowledgeable and experienced in installing appliances, you should work with a qualified service provider.
12. Water Composition
If you live in an area where the water is highly corrosive (acidic) or reactive (full of minerals that encrust the tank walls, slowing heat transfer), then consider purchasing a stainless steel storage tank water heater. Stainless steel tanks resist rust (and so don’t need anodes), but they’re more expensive than mid-steel tanks, which are glass lined. If you have problems with water composition, the higher cost of stainless steel at the time of purchase will save you money and headaches in the future.
13. Cost
Natural gas water heaters, whether storage tank or tankless, tend to be more expensive to purchase than comparable units that run on electricity. However, the real cost of your hot water needs to factor in energy consumption over the life of the unit, the cost to install the unit (including running gas lines, installing ventilation systems, and/or modify electrical systems), and maintenance. The types of water heaters that are most expensive to purchase (natural gas and tankless) will probably save you money over time.
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