A water heater’s job is pretty straight forward – heat cold water to a desired temperature so you can bathe, shower, wash dishes, and do all the various other activities you rely on warm or hot water for.But what happens when your water heater can no longer keep up with your household’s demands? Or worse, fails to produce any hot water at all while you’re in the middle of a shower? In an effort to get hot water flowing again and FAST, you might be tempted to purchase a newer version of old faithful. After all, it served you well all these years, right? Not so fast.

Read on to learn about the various water heater options available to you today and how to select one that best suits your household’s needs.

Conventional Gas

As the name implies, a conventional gas water heater burns natural gas (or propane). It features a cylindrical glass-lined metal tank with a gas burner underneath. Conventional gas water heaters heat the water in the tank while an exhaust system vents combustion gases outdoors, much like your kitchen stove. Gas heaters also feature an automatic ignition system operated either by electricity or a standing pilot light.

Conventional Electric

Similar to its gas counterpart, an electric water heater also features a cylindrical glass-lined tank. However, the water in the tank is heated by two resistive heating elements that go through the side of the tank. When the thermostat calls for heat, these elements glow red-hot and consume approximately 4,000 watts of electricity. The tank is well-insulated so that the heating elements don’t need to stay on for very long. Additionally, electric water heaters do not produce any emissions, unlike conventional gas heaters.

Hybrid Water Heaters

Hybrid water heaters employ a heat pump along with a refrigeration system  and is used in conjunction with backup resistive heating elements. However, a hybrid model consumes far less electricity than a traditional electric water heater. In fact, it’s less expensive to operate a hybrid water heater than it is a conventional gas model, delivering energy savings of $400 per year or more. Hybrid models are also taller than conventional tank-style water heaters, so you’ll need a bit more space – approximately 1,000 cubit feet. This may limit where you can have one installed.

On-Demand Water Heaters

Also known as tankless water heaters, on-demand models switch on only when a faucet or fixture calls for hot water. Once the faucet is turned off, the water heater shuts off. This means no need to continuously re-heat the water in a tank whether someone needs it or not. And that translates into some real energy savings. In fact, in a home with normal water pressure, a properly sized on-demand unit can deliver better energy-efficiency than a tank-style water heater.

Selecting the Right Size

If you’re going with a tank-style water heater, it’s important to first determine the ideal tank size to meet your family’s hot water needs. If your household has grown or shrunk, you’ll need to adjust accordingly.

  • One to two people – 30 to 40 gallons
  • Two to three people – 40 to 50 gallons
  • Three to four people – 50 to 60 gallons
  • Five or more people – 60 to 80 gallons

However, your household size isn’t the only factor to consider.  The number of hot water-using appliances and fixtures, the average groundwater temperature of the groundwater, and how many appliances and fixtures are frequently used at once should also be factored into your decision.

Is your water heater giving you problems or on its last leg? At PC Plumbing, Heating, AC & Remodeling, we install, maintain, and repair all makes and models of residential hot water systems, and to your complete satisfaction. Contact us today for a free in-home evaluation of your household’s hot water needs and a new system quote.