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.