A water heater is the most important appliance in your home that gets used every day. It affects the quality of your drinking water, how long your shower or bath takes to heat up and even if you have enough hot water for basic tasks around your house. That’s why it’s crucial to get the right size water heater for your home and its needs. There are several factors to consider when choosing the perfect water heater for your home. The type of home, natural gas or electric availability in your area, your family’s water usage and climate all affect your selection.
The size of your water heater will depend on the size of your home and how often you use hot water in your home.If your home is fairly small and you don’t plan on having a lot of people visiting or doing large water-use activities like landscaping or large household chores, then a 55-gallon water heater will often do the job just fine. For larger homes or families that are on the drier side, a larger-capacity water heater may be more suitable. The chart below shows the recommended sizes for common water heater types in different climate and water usage conditions.
If you live in a part of the country that has hot, humid summers and cold winters with little or no precipitation, you may want to consider installing a dual-fuel water heater. These are water heaters that can be run on natural gas or electricity. This allows you to use less fuel and generate less carbon dioxide than you would if you used a natural gas-only water heater in a climate like this.
One of the main considerations when choosing a water heater is whether you want a tank-style water heater or an on-demand water heater.A tank-style water heater is a large tank that stores water that is drawn from it as needed, often through a faucet. As long as electricity is available, a tank-style water heater can be used on any type of property. On-demand water heaters are a smaller, more efficient version of a tank-style water heater. They are often used in properties where there is a natural gas line or are in properties in climates where electricity is not available.
Above-ground water heaters are most often used in smaller properties where there is little or no room for a large tank on the property. These water heaters are also used in properties where there is limited access to the water supply because the water line is outside the house. This can make it difficult to service the unit or change the element.In-ground water heaters are most often used in properties where there is plenty of room for a large tank. They are more common in properties with natural gas lines because of their ability to be tied directly into the gas source.
Both electric and gas water heaters are very common and come in a variety of sizes and types. Electric water heaters use less energy than gas water heaters and are often used in properties where electricity is more readily available than gas.Electric water heaters do have a few drawbacks. They are less efficient than comparable gas water heaters, they may be more difficult to install and they generally don’t have the same longevity as gas water heaters.If you are looking to install a new water heater in your home, you can find many different options that are designed to suit your needs. A few of these include tank-style water heaters, in-ground water heaters, electric water heaters, hybrid water heaters and solar water heaters. Whatever type of water heater you choose, it’s important to choose one that meets your needs and is right for your home.