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Are you in search of a new water heater to replace your current one? If so, what type of water heater are you considering purchasing? Before you decide, we’ll see why you should replace your water heater, and then review the common types available in the market. Let’s take a look at the most common water heaters.
Reasons to Replace Your Water Heater
- The warranty on your appliance has expired.
- Your tank leaks continuously, even though you’ve already had it repaired a couple of times.
- The capacity of your current water heater is not sufficient for your needs.
Conventional Storage Tank Heater
According to an expert local plumber in Chattanooga, TN, the conventional storage tank heater is the most common type. As the name implies, this type of water heater features a tank that holds the heated water. The walls are insulated so the water remains warm until required. The size of the tank is the quantity of hot water that you have available for use.
The water tank is equipped with two valves. One controls temperature and the other controls pressure. The temperature valve is opened if the water temperature crosses 150oF; this releases heat from the tank. The pressure valve is opened to release pressure if it reaches a value greater than 150 psi.
According to local plumber in Chattanooga, TN, the tank based water heater is the most common type used for residential purposes. It is preferred because you have hot water instantly. But your tank must be large enough to hold sufficient water.
A tank based water heater does require regular maintenance, which implies cleaning the tank twice a year to remove the mineral build up and prevent corrosion. Your local plumber in Chattanooga, TN, can do this for you. Though maintenance isn’t mandatory, it is highly recommended because it increases the life of your water heater. Other advantages of this unit include instant availability of hot water, simple installation and affordable prices.
According to an expert local plumber in Chattanooga, TN, the typical lifespan of such a heater is around 12 years.
Tankless Water Heater
As the name suggests, the tankless water heater has no tank to store heated water. Instead, it features coils that heat the water whenever required. Also referred to as an on-demand water heater, this type can quickly heat water.
When choosing a larger model, ensure that you have proper gas or electricity supply in your home, advises a reputed local plumber in Chattanooga, TN. Generally, these models run correctly on bigger gas lines and greater electrical capacity. Upgrading gas lines is a more convenient option of the two because increasing residential electrical capacity often incurs huge costs.
Though there is no tank that has to be cleaned regularly, you should still get a tankless water heater maintained by a local plumber in Chattanooga, TN, at least once a year to prevent corrosion and sediment buildup.
Tankless water heaters are energy efficient because water is heated only when required. Hence, less energy is consumed as compared to other water heaters. Hot water supply is limited, but is sufficient if you buy a unit of appropriate size. Disadvantages of such a model include greater upfront costs, but in the long run, a tankless water heater is a more economical choice. The average lifespan of a tankless water heater is around 8 to 10 years.
Hybrid Water Heater
A hybrid water heater lowers your electrical bills because it doesn’t directly generate any heat. Instead, it uses heat from the surrounding area to increase the water temperature. The model is powered, but the energy is only used for moving heat to the water source. Thus, hybrid water heaters can drop your electricity costs by as much as 60%.
Hybrid heater water takes up space during installation and requires the height of the areas to be at least 8 feet. This is because the heat pump is usually located at the top. Also the water heater must not be installed in cold areas like the basement or in regions where the winter season lasts for a long time.
Since the efficiency is high, hybrid water heaters are cost effective in the long run. Like a traditional unit, hybrid water heaters also have a tank that must be cleaned two times in a year by a reputed local plumber in Chattanooga, TN.
Solar Heater
A solar water heater takes energy from the sun to heat water, and is probably the most efficient of all types. The sun energy is passed onto a heat conductive material. On sunny days, such a model can save your costs excessively, but an expert local plumber in Chattanooga, TN, only recommends this heater for warm regions that see plenty of sun throughout the year. For cloudy days and the winter season, an alternative power source is required like electricity or gas.
Solar water heaters also have a tank and must be cleaned regularly by a local plumber in Chattanooga, TN. The solar panels must also be maintained periodically.
Condensing Water Heater
A condensing water heater heats water using unused gas fumes and is often the best option because it runs on natural gas. Water is stored in a tank; coils are attached to the bottom surface to transfer heat from the fumes to the water. Like with other tank based models, ensure that the tank is of an appropriate size.
Obviously, the tank does have to be cleaned along with the gas valves. According to a local plumber in Chattanooga, TN, a condensing water heater is a good option if your family requires more than 55 gallons of water daily.
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