Choosing a new water heater may seem daunting, especially with the many different types offered. To minimize your overall stress level, use the information below to figure out what your home’s needs are. Doing so will make it easy to shop for and choose exactly the right one.
Types of Water Heater
- Conventional Storage — Stores hot water in a tank and heats as needed.
- Tank-less / Demand-Type –– Heats water directly without a storage tank.
- Heat Pump — Pulls heat from surrounding air rather than directly generating the heat to provide hot water.
- Solar — Utilizes the sun’s energy to give you hot water.
- Tank-less Coil and Indirect — Uses a home’s space heating system to heat up water.
How to Choose
- Fuel: When you are determining the best fit according to fuel type, be sure to factor in the fuel’s availability, as well as to compare the costs of the different types in your Los Angeles area. The type of fuel used will directly correlate to annual operation cost, as well as size and energy efficiency. Typical fuel sources for varying types of water heaters include electricity, fuel oil, geothermal energy, natural gas, propane and solar energy.
- Size: Choosing the right size water heater will help ensure your home receives the necessary amount of hot water, while maximizing your energy efficiency to the fullest. Your HVAC professional can help you determine the right size.
- Energy Efficiency: Governmental ratings, such as Energy Star, now determine a unit’s ability to cut down energy usage and save you costs. Be on the lookout for such ratings to maximize your utility bill savings.
- Costs: Many water heater units come with an estimated annual cost. When you are getting ready to purchase one, make all of the necessary comparisons with other energy-efficient models and different types.
By keeping all the necessary criteria in mind, you will be sure to find the best-fit water heater for your home. For personalized advice on water heaters, contact the experts at Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. We have been serving the Los Angeles area since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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