Hidden Plumbing Problems: What to Look for

Installing A Water Heater? Look For These Features

9 July 2019

Herbert Chambers

The time has come. Your old hot water heater is no longer making your water warm and satisfying, so it's time to have your contractor come install a new one! You probably can't wait to take a nice, long, hot shower again — but before you get to that point, you need to select the hot water heater that's right for you. Here are some things to look for in a good model.

The same heating source as your current water heater

Although there are situations in which changing from an electric to a gas water heater is beneficial, doing so requires a lot of work on the part of your contractor, and is not usually worth it. Buy a water heater with the same connection, and all your contractor will really have to do to install it is unhook the old unit and connect the new one. This will save you a bundle on installation. So if you currently have an electric hot water heater, look for another electric one. If you currently have a gas model, look for another gas one.

Adequate tank capacity

You'll find water heaters that hold as little as 40 gallons or as many as 100 gallons. If you rarely run out of hot water with your current heater, then you can probably just stick with the same size. If your family size has decreased since you bought that last water heater, you might be able to downsize. On the other hand, if you find yourself taking cold showers or having to stagger your showers to avoid the dreaded chill, this is your chance to upgrade! A 50-gallon tank works well for small families of two or three whereas families of four or more generally want at least a 75-gallon tank.

Efficiency

There's an easy way to tell if a water heater is generally efficient. Look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star is a government program, and appliances are only given the Energy Star stamp of approval if they meet certain efficiency standards, which have become more and more stringent over time as technology has improved. If you buy a new Energy Star water heater, your energy bills should decrease substantially since water heaters made even 10 years ago were far less efficient than today's models.

When shopping for a new water heater, the three things you need to keep in mind are the energy source, size, and efficiency. Contact a water heater installation service near you in order to learn more. Happy shopping!

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