How to Choose the Best Water Heater for a Growing Family

How to Choose the Best Water Heater for a Growing Family

Hot water accounts for nearly 20% of the typical household’s annual energy costs. Choosing the right water heater can make a big difference in home comfort and total cost of ownership. Let’s explore everything you should know before choosing your next water heater.

Uniform Energy Factor

All water heaters sold in the U.S. must have an EnergyGuide label. It’s a yellow label located on the water heater and a Department of Energy requirement. That label includes all the information you need concerning short- and long-term costs related to that model.

The uniform energy factor is among the most important. UEF is an indication of how efficiently a water heater heats water and, if applicable, maintains that temperature. The higher the UEF, the cheaper that water heater is to operate. What’s convenient about UEF is that you can compare it across all models. It doesn’t matter if you’re comparing electric to fuel or tank to tankless.

Tank Water Heaters

Tank water heaters are the traditional choice for home water heating. These systems heat and store water in a tank. There are a couple of notable downsides to this approach. It’s necessary to keep the water supply heated at all times, which can be wasteful. There’s also limited hot water. If you run out, you’re out until the system recovers. That’s why the first-hour rating is important. It indicates how much hot water a system can provide in the first hour it’s on.

Heat Pump and Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heaters

There are both fuel-burning and electric tank water heaters. Heat pump water heaters are a modern type of electric water heater that uses a heat pump rather than heating elements. A heat pump transfers heat energy to the water from the ambient air. This is a highly efficient approach to water heating that outperforms fuel systems and even on-demand water heaters.

A downside to a heat pump is that it recovers slowly. That means that these units can have some of the lowest first-hour rates available. Hybrid systems are a solution to this problem. They have both a heat pump and heating elements. The system will use the heat pump most of the time. During periods of high demand, it will use the heating elements instead.

Tankless Water Heaters

On-demand water heaters don’t have a tank. Instead, they heat the water when you turn a fixture on or run an appliance. They’re generally not quite as efficient as heat pump water heaters. That said, they’re much more efficient than traditional water heaters because they don’t waste energy maintaining the water supply temperature.

There are two other notable advantages to tankless water heaters. A well-sized system essentially provides you with unlimited hot water. On-demand systems also let you size them over your daily needs without wasting money. Doing that with even a heat pump water heater will waste money each day. With a tankless unit, you can enjoy extra capacity for guests staying over and large family gatherings.

Life Expectancy and Thinking Ahead

All water heaters have an expected lifespan. Storage water heaters last 10-15 years on average, and tankless water heaters last 15-20 years. This is important because you want to size the unit for your expected needs over the life of the equipment. If you’re expecting children, for instance, you’ll save by accounting for the new family additions now rather than later. Likewise, if you have a child leaving for college, it may make sense to downsize.

Fuel-Burning Water Heaters

If you’re choosing a traditional tank water heater or a tankless system, fuel is better. It will cost you less over the life of the equipment. The preferable option is natural gas, but that requires access to a natural gas line. If you lack that access, liquid propane is the most common alternative. You’ll need to have it delivered and stored in a tank on your property.

Condensing Water Heaters

If opting for a gas water heater, you have the option of a condensing model. Traditional fuel-burning systems lose heat through the exhaust system that vents toxic gases. Condensing systems eliminate much of those losses by using a second heat exchanger. The additional equipment does make these units more expensive. Still, it results in a notably higher UEF, which makes them more cost-effective long term.

Sizing a Tank Water Heater

For a growing household, your installer will size the tank based on the expected number of family members. Your installer can also adjust that number as needed. That may be necessary if you have a large home with many bathrooms or appliances that use a lot of water.

The typical tank in the U.S. is 40-50 gallons. There are tanks as small as 20 gallons for individuals and couples. We offer tanks that hold 100 gallons or more for large households. Installation footprint is a consideration as well. The standard form factor accommodates the typical water heater closet. There are tall, thin models that are ideal for garage installations. There are also squat, compact models that are perfect for low-clearance installations.

Sizing a Tankless Water Heater

Sizing an on-demand system is more challenging. You need enough flow rate for all the fixtures and water-using appliances you want to run in parallel. The industry measures flow rate in gallons per minute. Each fixture and appliance in your home has a GPM rating. Another consideration is temperature rise. Rise is the difference between the temperature of your groundwater and water supply. There are additional challenges with large homes. It may be necessary, for instance, to add a recirculating pump or auxiliary point-of-use water heaters.

Energy Incentives

There may be tax credits, rebates, and other incentives available that can help lower your initial costs. Most of these incentives require a water heater with the ENERGY STAR label. The U.S. EPA generally reserves that certification for condensing and heat pump systems. You can find offers available by zip code through the ENERGY STAR website.

Hard Water

Water hardness can dramatically increase water heater operating costs and shorten system lifespan. If your water is moderately hard or harder, consider water softening. An anti-scale device is a local solution that stops limescale from forming in the water heater. It’s a good option for tankless systems when water hardness isn’t a broader concern. When it is, we recommend a whole-house water softener instead. These are point-of-entry systems that remove most calcium and magnesium from your water before it enters your home. This not only protects your water heater but also your plumbing and other appliances.

Install a New Water Heater in Greater Sacramento

Crystal Blue Plumbing, Heating & Air is a family-owned and operated plumbing company and HVAC team based in Loomis, CA. Our technicians install, maintain, and repair all types of ducted and ductless heating and cooling systems. That includes furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, ACs, and mini-splits. Our indoor air quality team performs testing and installs and services air purifiers, UV lamps, HRVs, ERVs, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers.

Our plumbers clean drains, detect and fix leaks, and pipe and repipe water, gas, and sewer lines. We also specialize in tank and tankless water heaters, water treatment, water softeners, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, and much more. Call today or contact us online to schedule a service appointment or on-site consultation.

How California’s Climate Impacts the Lifespan of Your AC

How California’s Climate Impacts the Lifespan of Your AC

No matter where you live, your air conditioner will have to deal with weather extremes periodically. After all, you wouldn’t need climate control if it were always 70 degrees and breezy outside! Living in the Sacramento area is no different, and you need to know the particular challenges that your climate poses to your air conditioner. With appropriate attention and regular professional service, you’ll be able to maximize the lifespan of your AC. Let’s look at what makes Cali a tough place for your system.

Extreme Temperatures

The most obvious issue we face in California is the heat. The very warmth that has drawn millions to live in our state can quickly turn into miserably hot temperatures that send everyone from the beaches and city streets into their homes. Once they get inside, they want to turn down the thermostat and put the air conditioner to work. Not surprisingly, the demand that results from that adjustment of the thermostat can be very taxing on the system.

Everything from blown capacitors to worn-out compressors and more can result from the long, frequent cycles of AC operation that happen when the mercury soars toward the triple digits, but don’t concern yourself with the exact diagnosis. When something just doesn’t seem right or if the system doesn’t work at all, make the call to a contractor and let them sort it out.

Of course, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and your usage habits and household routines can go a long way toward reducing the strain on your system, even on the hottest days of the year. A great first move is simply to close the blinds and keep the sun out during the day. You can also adjust your thermostat to a warmer setting during the day while everyone’s at work and school. You might want to talk to us about a programmable thermostat or even a smart unit that will let you program and monitor the temperature from wherever you are.

When temperatures start to rise, it quickly becomes a very hard day for your air conditioner, no matter how much you do. The more sweltering summers it sees, the shorter its lifespan will be.

Heavy Dust Loads

California has an incredibly diverse climate, from the deserts of the south to the snowcapped peaks further north, with sandy beaches running the length of the state. Something that is found in almost every corner of California is dust and lots of it. That dust finds its way into every part of every building when the winds kick up and blow in from the ocean.

Dust is one of the biggest enemies of your air conditioner. The first word is “air” for a reason — the system is designed to move air for many hours a day, and the dust that is in that air can create a burden on the system. Dust can accumulate in the ductwork, blower fans, and electronic connections inside, and it can add to the workload for the outside unit as well.

Of course, you cannot stop the dust from blowing into your home, so your job is to do what you can to protect your system from it. Regularly changing filters is the most important way to put your hands on the job, but after that, it’s up to the professionals. You should have your HVAC contractor come by to perform deep cleaning during regular service visits. This will help clear away as much of the contamination as possible so that your system runs at peak efficiency. The higher the efficiency, the longer the system’s life, so don’t let dust erode your budget. Do everything you can to keep the system clean!

Corrosion on the Coast

California has an incredibly long coastline with thousands of miles of exposure to the Pacific Ocean. It’s great for recreation, scenic beauty, and property value, but it is very tough on your air conditioner. That pleasant salty air that you enjoy while visiting the beach is a mortal enemy to your air conditioner.

Salt corrodes all kinds of metal surfaces, causing electrical connections to become brittle and fall apart. Soon you’ll see all kinds of expensive components failing, leaving you in the market for a new air conditioner.

Or at least, that’s what will happen without regular service. When you bring us in for routine upkeep of your system, we’ll be able to head off some of those repairs. Many times, the failure of a small part will cause the failure of a big, expensive part. Service visits allow technicians to see those problems coming and make the little repair that prevents the big repair.

Even with proper care of your system, that Pacific salt is very tough on it and will shorten the unit’s lifespan despite giving your system the best AC maintenance service. When your system finally reaches the end of its days, don’t be surprised to find out that corrosion is at the heart of its problems.

Smog, Smoke, and Other Pollution

Dirty air isn’t just bad for your health; it is also bad for your HVAC’s health. Unfortunately, California has no shortage of airborne contaminants to burden your air conditioner and shorten its life.

Probably the most famous one is smog, the combination of automotive exhaust and fog. When stagnant weather arrives in the area with no winds to dissipate pollution, the morning dampness becomes a way for pollution to drift away from the freeways and into your home.

Of course, it’s not just vehicle fuel that produces smoke in California. Our extreme climate supports many wildfires, some of them massive and lasting for days. All of that material can find its way into your AC as well, and that can be particularly problematic because smoke includes large particles of soot that accumulate quickly on AC parts and lead to more significant damage.

Once again, filtration and regular service will help minimize the effect of smoke on your AC, but it will still shorten the system’s lifespan.

Installation Issues

One thing that always happens in fast-growing areas is the arrival of shady contractors. These companies exploit the high demand for their services by jumping into a busy market and getting work done as quickly as possible before scattering to another city. They leave behind a legacy of slipshod workmanship using poor materials. If your home is part of a recent housing development, you may already be seeing the results of a contractor like this.

Fortunately, our team at Crystal Blue can help clean up a lot of that mess before it becomes a big disaster. During a service call, we don’t just address things that are worn out. We also deal with the things that were never done right in the first place.

Make the Most of Your AC

We can’t control the weather, but we certainly can control what it does to our air conditioning systems. No matter what stresses your system faces, the first step is always to have routine service performed. The AC service team at Crystal Blue Plumbing, Heating, and Air in Sacramento is always glad to work with homeowners to answer their questions about how our California weather puts such heavy demands on HVAC. Most importantly, we are also glad to help you keep your system serviced and repaired for peak performance and maximum service life. Give us a call today.