Water Heaters - The Best Way To Keep Your Water Hot

Have you ever stepped into the shower to get ready for work and there's no hot water? Not very pleasant, is it? So, how do you make sure you've got enough hot water for your whole family throughout the day? By installing an efficient water heater.

There are many different types to consider:

Conventional tank, or called "on-demand" heaters
Electric
Gas-fired
Tankless
Solar
and Heat pump

Each of these are excellent options. Your choice will depend upon your preference and some simple considerations such as the needs of your family and the location of your home. Let's look at some of the differences.

A conventional tank is the most commonly used heater in today's market. What makes it so convenient is that it holds as much as 100 gallons of hot water all the time, affording you the convenience of having hot water at your fingertips. An electric water heater requires a 220-volt outlet. A gas-fired heater uses natural gas or propane. One important point here is that there's going to be more wear and tear on your tank with a gas-fired heater versus an electric, but heating with gas is about three times as cheap as with electricity.

Tankless heaters ensure you have hot water as needed, which saves energy and money. These are generally operated by natural gas and propane. They are super because you don't waste energy or money from a tank of unused hot water. Solar power for heaters is becoming more and more popular as people seek to utilize more "green" products to save energy. Flat panels are attached to the roof of the house if possible or close by and the water circulates through the panel. It goes without saying how low cost solar heat will be. You could easily redeem your investment in about five years or so. The heat pump hot water heater is the "new kid on the block". The initial cost can be higher but the operating costs are lower.

But just how much will it cost to make sure you have all the hot water you need? Statistically, 25% of each dollar goes to heat your water. Nowadays, water heaters have improved tremendously from years gone by. The average lifespan for a water heater is about 13 years. If yours goes on the blink and your plumber tells you that you need a new one, he's probably being truthful.

Today's models are so much more energy efficient than yesterday's. You wouldn't even want to replace your existing model with a similar one. Upgrade should be in your thinking. Sure it will cost you some bucks to replace it, but you have to consider the monthly and yearly savings compared to the initial cost of a new water heater. Believe me, there'll be considerable savings! Honestly, you could save hundreds over a period of time depending on your choice.