Photo By nikkytok at istock
Hot water is such a ubiquitous part of our lives that we sometimes don’t think about what it takes but once we lose our hot water we start to wonder what is going on. When you call a plumbing company you should have a small idea of what all of your options are but they will be able to guide you on what is the best option for your home. From old school solutions to the most modern systems you should have choices when replacing your hot water heater.
Storage Tank Hot Water Heater
The storage tank water heater style is probably the one you are most familiar with. These are ubiquitous with your plumbing company and they will have tons of sizes and options. There are models available that can heat based on what you have available at your house including liquid propane, natural gas, or electricity. These larger stands are well known because you can only have so much hot water with these tanks since they must fill with cold water from your water supply and then heat it up to your desired temperature. Storage tank hot water heaters are the most cost effective on the market and most in the industry are expected to last about ten years. Your plumbing company may also inform you that they are extremely easy to source and install, meaning your interruptions will be limited.
On-Demand Hot Water Heater
If you’ve been struggling in your home to keep the water warm because you have a tank that is too small you may want to look at a tankless on-demand water heater. Their main advantages are that they don’t have a tank to deal with in your utility room or basement and that you can get hot water at any time. They are becoming quite popular in new construction or in houses with larger families who need hot water all at once. They still come in various sizes to accommodate usage so you don’t get only partially heated water and the plumbing company you call should be able to help you choose a size to handle all of your items at once. They are extremely energy efficient to run as they don’t have to continuously kick on to keep water home. On the flip side installing them can be cost prohibitive. You generally need to re-route or expand gas and electrical systems to accommodate them and they cost a lot more. On average the tankless on-demand water heaters are expected to last just under a decade.
Hybrid Hot Water Heater
Newer hybrid water heaters are generally considered to be a high efficiency storage tank system from the outside. When you call a plumbing company to ask about them you’ll likely get a question of if you have space. That is because the heat pump that is attached to the top of the tank can be quite large. It also requires you to bore into the ground as these hot water heaters send water through the ground to get the heat up a certain amount, reducing the amount of electricity or gas needed to heat the actual tank. Hybrid hot water heaters use substantially less electricity or gas than a standard tank because you have a baseline temperature that is higher than your water sources base temperature. You will want to ask your plumbing company how efficient it will be around Chattanooga, TN as during the winter months they may not be as efficient since the ground does get colder. The average heat pump is expected to last just over a decade.
Condensing Hot Water Heater
Another reason a good plumbing company should also deal with heating and cooling is so you can tie complementary systems together. Such is the case of a condensing water heater. If your home uses natural gas then you are able to purchase one of these. The fumes from your gas system are funnelled through a coil at the bottom of the tank of one of these systems to heat water for your home and is supplemented by your other natural gas system when you are unable to complete heating the system with just your other usage. Condensing systems, because they use waste from other processes, can actually be the cheapest systems to use. Unfortunately they have a size limit and most manufacturers don’t make larger models for high demand, meaning you may not be able to for your house. As with other tank systems they are expected to last for about a decade.
Solar Hot Water Heater
If you’ve ever wanted to walk toward a renewable source for heating your water your plumbing company could suggest getting a solar powered water heater. It is a closed loop system that sends fluids up to solar panels on the roof to be heated and then send them back to heat the water in your tank. There is a required backup system in case you are unable to reach your desired temperature either because of unfavorable conditions or demand issues. As this has a tank attached you should expect about ten years out of the water portion of the process and should also have your solar panels regularly worked on. If your plumbing company determines your house has a favorable angle you should have very little operating costs per month but up front his option will be extremely expensive. Solar panels, while being much cheaper than they have been historically are still a major cost hurdle for most individuals even with any local, state, or federal tax credits that may be available for obtaining them.
When choosing a hot water heater you want to choose a plumbing company you can trust. You want a job that is done right and done at your advantage and not a salesperson. The experts at Metro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Septic out of Chattanooga, TN have the expertise and professionalism for you to make an informed decision done right. Visit them at Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air today to see what they can do to help you.
