Need A New Water Heater? Ask Yourself These Questions First
For many households, going without hot water is out of the question, which makes a successful water heater installation all the more important. But before you run out and buy another water heater, you might want to take this opportunity to figure out exactly what your home needs from its water heater.
What's Your Budget?
Before you start looking for a new water heater, you should learn exactly how much water heater you'll be able to afford. According to the most recent figures from HomeAdvisor, a typical conventional water heater with a 40 to 50-gallon tank can cost an average of $889 to purchase and install, while a similar tankless water heater can cost as much as $3,000.
It's always a good idea to purchase the best water heater that's well within your means, but you should also be realistic about how much it'll cost you when everything's said and done. For example, buying the cheapest water heater available may seem like a good bargain, but it could end up costing you in terms of excess energy consumption and higher utility bills.
Which Type Should You Buy?
You should also consider which type of water heater is best suited for your home. Conventional water heaters are a common go-to for reliable hot water, thanks in large part to their affordability, relative ease of installation and ability to handle large hot water demands. However, these units offer a relatively short lifespan when compared to tankless water heaters, plus they're not as energy-efficient as their tankless counterparts.
Tankless water heaters are a newer type of hot water heating system that offer a broad range of advantages over their conventional counterparts. Tankless water heaters not only have a much lower energy loss than comparable conventional units, but their design also allows for limitless and instantaneous hot water. Unfortunately, tankless water heaters tend to cost twice as much as comparable conventional units and the installation process is more labor-intensive than most homeowners expect. In addition, tankless water heaters aren't able to handle periods of high hot water demand unless multiple units are installed.
Learning the pros and cons of each type of water heater can help you make an informed purchasing decision that best benefits your home.
How Big Should It Be?
Size is also an important factor when choosing a new water heater. The size of your new water heater will have a definite impact on the amount of hot water available to your home, as well as the amount of energy it'll consume throughout its life. Space considerations may also make size an issue when installing your water heater, especially if you plan on installing one in a relatively small space.
Installing a water heater that's either too large or too small for your home could prove a costly mistake in more ways than one. An undersized water heater may run out of hot water too soon while an oversized water heater may waste energy due to the amount of time and energy required to keep the water at your desired temperature.
Are You Sure It Can Handle Your Daily Demands?
The most important aspect of carefully choosing your new water heater is ensuring that it's able to handle your everyday hot water needs. Consider how well your previous water heater addressed your daily hot water usage given the number of occupants in your home as well as the number of appliances that rely on your water heater. If you weren't getting enough hot water from your old water heater, for example, then it may be time to upgrade to a larger unit.
Keep in mind that your contractor can help you choose the best water heater that addresses your home's hot water demands without wasting energy or space. If you have more questions, professionals at companies like R & B Inc Heating & Air Conditioning can help.