Things to Consider When Choosing a Hot Water Heater

When you are looking for a new water heater, you may have a lot of questions about what constitutes a good value. If you are in the market for a water heater, it’s important to know a bit about the different types of models available, and you can count on our Aurora, IL plumbers at Titan to help you through the process.

There are two major kinds of water heaters: the first is a storage tank, which is the most common type used and the second is a tankless model.

The storage tank water heater is something that you have probably have seen in backyards across your neighborhood. They are insulated tanks–meaning that they heat the water inside of them– and once the water has been heated, it is stored until you use it. While it is in the storage tank, the water stays warm, so it won’t use up too much energy to reheat it when needed. These tanks are fueled by either liquid propane, electric or gas though, if you want to save a bit of money, the liquid propane and gas will use less energy. Your plumber can help you decide which size tank would be best for your home. If you and your family use a lot of hot water in just a small amount of time, you’ll want to be sure to get a tank that has quicker recovery times; if not, you may find yourself waiting for the water to reheat before you take a hot shower.

The tankless heater does not store hot water, but runs it through a heat exchanger as needed, which is why many people call it an on-demand heater. It provides approximately 3.5 gallons at a time, so if you often use more hot water than this at one time, you may want to avoid this model. On the plus side, these water heaters are more energy-efficient than storage tanks, which can lead to greater long-term savings than a storage tank. If space is a concern, tankless heaters are vastly superior, as they can be installed on a wall or in a closet.

When shopping for a water heater, be sure you have an idea of what the general purpose of your equipment will be before you make a final decision. When in doubt, let our Aurora IL plumbers assist you in making a decision. Their expertise in the field can help guide you towards the model that will best suit your needs.