Water heaters are one of the many household appliances we take for granted until they've exhausted their lifetime usage and we are left with nothing but cold water on cold winter days. When you require an emergency water heater installation in your Buckingham home, you don't have time to research, deliberate, and compare water heaters. You have to make an instantaneous decision on which water heater is best suited for your home so that you can restore order and hot water in your life. That's why we've created this handy guide for you to peruse and educate yourself on the many different types of water heaters.
Conventional Storage Tank Water Heater
The most common water heaters found in our area are called conventional storage tank water heaters. These water heaters operate by filling the main tank with water and using some type of fuel (usually gas or electric) to heat up the water to the designated temperature. Inside the tank is a thermometer that constantly monitors the water's temperature and determines whether the water needs to be heated or not. Once the water is hot, it is ready to use.
These water heaters are less expensive to install, repair, and maintain. All you have to do to care for your water heater is drain it biannually to remove sediment buildup and ensure high performance. They are available in many sizes to optimize the amount of hot water for the whole family without waste. However, there are two downsides to owning a conventional water heater: you're always paying to heat water, even if you don't need it, and there is significant heat loss in the system.
Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are an up-and-coming component of home plumbing systems that work by producing hot water on demand. The beauty of this particular system is that it offers a sleek design that can be installed in virtually any part of your home. Whereas most water heaters use a tank for water storage and heating, tankless water heaters only work when someone turns on the faucet for hot water. They will draw water from the plumbing system, heat it up using either electricity or gas, then forward it to the demanding faucet.
Tankless water heaters offer numerous advantages over their traditional tank counterparts. Watch the video below to learn more about how tankless water heaters can benefit your home.
Heat Pump Water Heater
Did you know that heat pumps are capable of heating, cooling, and water heating? Well, now you do! These innovative devices, also referred to as hybrid electric water heaters, work by drawing heat from outside surroundings and using it to heat the water in its tank. Although this has a storage tank like conventional water heaters, the main difference is in the way it uses electricity. Conventional water heaters use electricity to heat up the water, whereas heat pumps use electricity to move heat from one location to another. This method of electricity usage can save homeowners a lot of money on their utility bills.
Like conventional storage tank water heaters, heat pumps need to be flushed biannually to remove mineral buildup and prolong its lifespan. They are incredible energy-efficient devices, but they are a little more expensive to install and repair. The major downside of using a heat pump as your main source of heating water is that Pennsylvania winters can get extremely cold. If there's no heat to extract from the outside environment, the heat pump will not produce any hot water for your home.
Solar-Powered Water Heater
If you're dedicated to the "green" lifestyle, you'll love owning a solar-powered water heater. Solar-powered water heaters draw energy from the sun to heat up the water in the tank before distributing it throughout the household. This water heater can be incredibly convenient if you already own solar panels.
However, solar-powered water heaters are meant to be used in conjunction with conventional water heaters. This is because solar technology works well in sunny climates, but once winter weather conditions emergency, their efficiency will drop significantly. As such, it's important to have a conventional water heater as a backup during the cold months.
Now that you know more about the main types of water heaters, most importantly how they function and what advantages they offer, you're ready to speak with a Ben Franklin technician about a water heater installation, available from Hatboro to Doylestown. Call us today at (215) 712-8650 for all your plumbing needs.