Water Heaters- Which Kind is Right for Your Home?

Conserving energy is on everyone's mind these days. Not only do we want to do our part to protect the environment but we also want to save every dollar that we can. Sometimes though we think about the energy that comes from our appliances, our lights, our electronics and our air conditioning but we do not think about the energy involved in heating water for our residences. When it comes to our daily needs, approximately 25 percent of our energy dollars goes to heating water to use for showers, laundry and the like.

Water heaters today are a great deal more energy efficient than the ones in the past. Not only must you think about the price it costs to purchase a new heater for your water consumption but also the cost to operate the heater once it is put in.

Most water heaters last up to 13 years. You might be fortunate to purchase one that ends up with a longer life span. The important thing is to choose wisely when you buy the heater because it is a decision that you will be living with for a great many years to come.

Consider this, if you buy a water heating system that saves you roughly one dollar a month that works out to be $12 in savings on an annual basis. That does not sound like much money but consider this, over a 13 year period that works out to be $156 in savings.

When it comes to water heaters you need to choose between electric and gas. If you are replacing an existing heater then you need to know what kind you currently have. Find out if your home has an outlet for natural gas as this can be your most economical option. If you have electric heating in your home then purchasing a gasoline water heater would not be the right choice for you. If you reside in a rural area that offers propane service as opposed to natural gas then propane is most often less pricey than choosing electricity.

Would you like to go with a solar hot water system or not? For many decades now the heat from the sun has been used to heat water for both houses as well as businesses. Solar systems for heating water are becoming more common as the years go by. Many homeowners see the appeal in leashing the power of the sun to heat their homes and their water.

A homeowner who uses electricity to heat the water in their household could save approximately $500 or thereabouts in the first year after installing a solar system. The average solar heating system will pay for itself anywhere from four to seven year's time. This increases the appeal of these types of water heaters tremendously.