Relevant Factors in New Water Heater Selection

Whether the signs have been building for months that you need a new water heater or you’ve suddenly experienced an ice cold shower and discovered a faulty system, the pros at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical are here to help you find a water heater replacement. We offer a range of water heater systems, including modern tankless systems, and our team has seen every home situation and knows the optimal system for you.

When you go about choosing a new model for your home, there will be a few important factors to consider. Let’s go over each of the most vital areas:

Unit Format

In today’s day and age, you have several options at your disposal when it comes to the type of water heater unit you choose for your home:

• Conventional: Generally called a storage tank unit, this is the water heater format that’s most common and that you’re likely used to seeing. It’s made up of a large tank that’s well-insulated, storing water that’s been heated until you turn on an appliance that requires it in the home.
• Heat pump: Also called a hybrid unit, a heat pump pulls air in from the ground or even the air in the room to heat water. Heat pumps move heat through electricity – they do not create their own heat.
• Tankless heater: This modern option doesn’t store any water at all. Instead, it boasts high-quality heating coils that can almost instantly heat up water on-demand. Many homeowners find tankless water heaters both more convenient and better for their utility savings.

Size and Capacity

There are several elements of home comfort where size is very important, including AC units and heaters, and water heaters are no exception. Too small a system, particularly a conventional tank, may not provide enough hot water for the occupants of many homes. Too large a system, on the other hand, could waste major amounts of water and raise energy bills significantly.

When you meet with our professionals to determine the right heater, they’ll show you that this isn’t only directly about size. It’s also about the capacity of the heater, which may vary based on a few other factors as well.

Efficiency and UEF

One such factor is the efficiency of the heater, which is very important for an appliance that uses nearly a quarter of your home’s energy. A recent measure put forth by the Department of Energy known as Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) is what you should be tracking here – simply put, the higher the UEF, the more efficient the unit. Higher-UEF systems will generally cost more, but many homeowners find they recoup these funds quite quickly in terms of lowered energy costs in the future.

Warranty Considerations

Always remember to check on a warranty. You never know when something might go wrong with a water heater, and it’s best to know you’re covered if possible.

For more on choosing a new water heater, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.