Energy Efficient Hot Water Heaters - How To Buy The Best Hot Water Heater For Your Home
Well it has finally happened. Old faithful, the hot water heater that was installed when the house was new has gone bad after all these years. You think you can keep the old one limping along until you get a new one.
Now you have to go through all the hassle of selecting a new water heater. But with all the rising utility bills, you are particularly interested in looking at more energy efficient hot water heaters in order to save some money, especially in these volatile times. This article will try and give you some tips on how to find the best energy efficient hot water heaters for your family.
So What Exactly Are Energy Efficient Hot Water Heaters?
Energy efficient hot water heaters are basically devices that have been designed to save both on energy and money for utility bills. Of course the ultimate goal is to help the environment by reducing greenhouse gases that are created when we use fossil fuels to power common household appliances. The more energy efficient a hot water heater is over the course of its life the less fuel is used.
While the standard energy efficient hot water heater only saves on average $30 in power bills a year, this is a great savings since most studies show that the average house with appliances can create as much air pollution (via power plant usage) as the average automobile! Burning fossil fuels increase global greenhouse emissions, smog and acid rain.
How to Buy Energy-Efficient Hot Water Heaters
On the outside, most hot water heaters look remarkably alike. In fact, it is not uncommon for harried homeowners to mistakenly buy confuse gas water heaters with electric ones and vice versa. So how can you tell a good energy efficient hot water heater from another? Read the list below to get some tips on what to look for.
Tip 1: Consider the heater fuel type, cost and availability. The most common hot water heaters are electric, natural gas or propane. There are some models powered by solar energy or wood or oil-fired boilers.
But to use these alternatives you will have more equipment expenses than normal and may require modifications to your house for them to function properly. So if you stick with conventional heaters like ones from Weil-McLain, you need to research the availability and costs of the fuel and power in your area.
Tip 2: Tank size. To give your family with enough hot water you need to think about what size water heater you need. But look past the issue of capacity. First determine how much water your family uses during the busiest time of day (normally mornings).
Figure out how much water the family uses for showering, shaving, brushing teeth, washing hands, running the clothes washer, cleaning dishes, etc. This is what manufacturers call the “first hour rating”. This is how much hot water a heater can put out in during a peak hour. This rating is displayed on most US heaters. Find one that matches your family first hour needs.
Tip 3: Get a long warranty. Oddly enough studies have shown that the longer the warranty is on a hot water heater, the better made it is and the more energy efficient it will be. So by paying a bit more for a 12 year warranty you are almost guaranteed to get a lower power bills!
