Water Heater Tips
Read these 9 Water Heater Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Plumbing tips and hundreds of other topics.
Water Heater Conservation
Most people take their water heater for granted as long as it's functioning properly. However, just a few simple adjustments can send you on your way to water heater conservation. Try these simple tricks to save energy with your existing water heater:
- Turn the temperature down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, especially if you have an older model water heater. When you do so, you'll conserve energy and your water heater will be less prone to damage due to overheating.
- Increase the efficiency of your water heater by draining the water every six months. You'll get rid of sediment deposits in your water heater, allowing your unit to operate more efficiently and promote water heater conservation.
Figure Out What Size Water Heater Tank You Need
Water Heater tanks come in a wide range of gallon capacities. If you're not sure how many gallons you need for your water heater tank, follow our guidelines to figure it out:
Ask yourself how many people, showers, and bathtubs there are in your household, whether you have a dishwasher, and whether you have a washing machine. For every person in your home and every fixture or appliance, give yourself a point and add them up.
4 points or less – You need a 30-gallon gas water heater or a 40-gallon electrical water heater.
5 to 6 points – You need a 40-gallon gas water heater or a 50-gallon electrical water heater.
7 points – You need a 40-gallon gas water heater or a 65-gallon electrical water heater.
8 points – You need a 50-gallon gas water heater or a 65-gallon electrical water heater.
9 points and above – You need a 50-gallon gas water heater or an 80-gallon electrical water heater.
Disadvantages of a Tankless Water Heater
The tankless heater is a more recent offering on the market for household consumers. Although there are many advantages to a tankless heater, if you're debating between a tank heater and a tankless one, remember there are two main disadvantages to consider:
1. You'll pay more money upfront for a tankless water heater than a tank water heater. In order to purchase a tankless water heater which will supply you comparable heating to a tank model, you'll pay at least two to three times the cost.
2. A tankless heater doesn't often equal the capacity of a tank heater to provide hot water for your household.
Advantages Of A Tankless Water Heater
Many older households use the traditional gallon water heater in order to supply hot water for their household. However, with the availability of the tankless water heater, some consumers might want to consider switching over. Here are some of the advantages of tankless over a gallon water heater:
- Compact size allows greater flexibility in a space saving unit.
- The tankless water heater is available as a gas or electric model, depending on your household needs.
- You have the flexibility of purchasing a smaller, less expensive unit to heat just a sink or a larger one in order to heat multiple fixtures in your household.
- Some units allow for a great deal of costs savings in your utility bill.
Water Heater Repair And Replacement
If you're considering either water heater repair or replacement, check out our handy guide to help you decide which way to go.
1. Check the manufacturer's recommended service life of your water heater. Consider water heater repair if your unit is well under the service life. Most manufacturers expect their products to last from 8 to 12 years.
2. Consider outside factors such as severe weather conditions, the integrity of the original installation, and amount of maintenance your water heater has received over the years. If your unit has weathered a great deal of inclement weather and neglected maintenance, it may be time to replace your unit.
3. Leaks around the tank or lack of reliability from your water heater mean it's time to replace your unit.
Water Heater Prices
A water heater is an all-important purchase to your home. Most households use hot water on a daily basis, several times a day. Check out our scoop on water heater prices if you want to prepare your budget for an upcoming purchase.
Under $200 – You won't be able to find as many water heaters in this category of water heater prices. There are some smaller model electric water heaters and a few lower capacity tankless models.
$200-400 – Gas water heaters start in this price range. You can find gas and electric water heaters in the common 40 and 50 gallon sizes. The tankless water heater models you'll find still cater to use with one fixture, such as a sink.
$400-600 – Look for lower to entry-level water heaters in the gas category here. Features like longer warranties of 12 years and a self-cleaning mode are part of this price point. Many electric water heaters don't cost much over the $400 to $600 range, but you can find the tankless water heater versions which will heat one major application at a time.
Over $600 – You'll find some of the mid-level and higher end tankless gas heaters which can cut your annual utility costs in this category. Higher end electric models go in this category. The tankless models can replace some of your existing water heaters, providing heat for one to three major applications at once.
The Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater is a unit which typically mounts on a wall of your home. Some models are meant for outdoor mounting while others can be indoors. Compact in size, they make great space saving alternatives to the traditional water heater. They are available as either gas or electric models and can deliver anywhere from 4 to over 6 gallons per minute of hot water to your home. Some units can shave off 50% on you annual water bill. You can buy a model which will heat up just one sink in your home or the entire hot water supply for your house. Most tankless water heater units can replace the current water heater you own.
What To Look For When Shopping For A Hot Water Heater
If you're thinking about replacing your existing hot water heater, it helps to know the basics so you can choose a model that best suits your home. A hot water heater comes in two main types: electric and gas. If you're looking for an electric water heater, they are suitable for use in most areas. Folks who shop for gas water heaters usually also use gas to fuel an appliance, such as a fireplace or stove. When shopping for either type of hot water heater, you should consider the following:
Water Capacity: A gas water heater ranges from tankless or just a few gallons to over 50 gallons. The most common size is 40 or 50 gallons for a water heater.
Recovery Rate: The recovery rate will determine how many gallons your water heater will heat up in an hour.
Size: Where you place your hot water heater and how much space you have will affect the constraints of the unit size. Look at the height and width to make sure you have enough room for your unit.
Energy Efficiency Rating: Want to know how much the hot water heater you're purchasing is going to cost you per year? Look for a sticker on the side of the model telling you the energy efficiency rating.
Determining Efficiency On Your Hot Water Heater
Efficiency is an important part of your hot water heater. When considering efficiency, look for two factors – the energy factor and the first hour rating. The energy factor or EF measures how well your hot water heater converts energy into heat and how well it stores it. A good EF factor is close to 1. The first hour rating or FHR lets you know how many gallons of water per minute, your hot water heater can deliver to your shower, sink, or other fixture. If you're considering a gas hot water heater, you'll find most models tend to deliver a higher FHR.
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