Are you in the market for a new water heater? Whether you're looking to upgrade, remodel, or start from scratch, you have a lot to consider with all the different options available today.
You may already know that traditional and tankless models are available, but do you know what sets the two of them apart? Let's take an in-depth look at the differences and similarities of tankless and traditional models, along with two other popular water heater options on the market today.
The Right Water Heater for You
Allow us to explain how each different hot water heater works as well as some of the perks you can expect from the different models.
Conventional Storage Water Heaters
Pictured to the right, these are your traditional water heaters. They're the large cylindrical-tank models like the one most likely installed in your home right now. That large tank holds gallons of water which are kept hot so that you almost always have hot water when you need it. After everyone in your house showers or you do several loads of laundry, however, you may run out of hot water. At that point, you'll need to wait for the tank to refill and heat up the new batch of water.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
Think about how a refrigerator works — but in reverse. While a fridge expels heat from the inside and dispenses it into the air outside of it, a heat pump water heater pulls heat from the air outside of it into the the inside of the unit. These models generally work best in places that stay between 40º–90ºF, which is great news for us in the southeast!
Indirect Water Heaters
An indirect water heater uses your furnace or boiler to heat water. Water circulates through a heat exchanger in the storage tank, and because of its ability for storage, your unit will turn off and on less often making it a more energy-efficient solution.
Tankless On-Demand Water Heaters
Rather than keeping a pre-heated supply, tankless water heaters heat water as it moves through the heater and your pipes — meaning you have a virtually endless access to hot water. These are a great choice for households that use a significant amount of hot water, or that don't have the space for the conventional model.
When choosing a hot water heater, you need to take into consideration the size of your house (or business), the number of people living in your home, how much hot water you use on a daily basis and even maintenance. If you need help making the right choice, give us a call at (864) 242-5511, or contact us online. We're here to help with all of your plumbing needs!
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