With traditional tank gas-powered water heaters and new electric tankless water heaters, deciding which kind of model is the best for your needs is a tough task. We will illustrate the pros and cons of each of the water heater systems so you can compare them at your convenience and choose the best for yourself.
Conventional Water Heaters
Conventional water heaters are large tank heaters that maintain a reservoir of warm or hot water at all times. They are reliable in all climates all over the world and are cheap to buy and install. Conventional water heaters are quite popular despite needing a lot of space and using more energy.
Tankless Water Heaters
As the name suggests, there is no tank. Tankless water heaters instantly heat water on demand instead of heating and maintaining a reservoir of water. That means you have a source of infinite hot water that does not take that much space. However, the higher initial costs can make tankless heaters out of reach.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
Heat pump water heaters use electricity and the heat from the ground and surrounding air to heat a tank of water. These use less energy and are easier to maintain than conventional water heaters while having a similarly low initial cost. However, they only have one downside, which is their lifespan isn’t the longest, about ten years.
Condensing Water Heaters
A condensing water heater works similarly to a conventional water heater with a tank, but it gets the heat from the exhaust gasses that would exit your home from a chimney. These are great energy-efficient water heaters that lower your gas consumption, but they require a lot of space and are initially expensive.
Solar Water Heaters
Solar water heaters are the most energy-efficient and cost-saving in the long run. They use solar energy to heat up a tank of water using a closed-loop system. They have a moderate installation cost, and solar panels need space on your roof. If that’s not an issue, these are the best. However, there is no guarantee it’ll work when it’s cloudy for several days.
Things to Consider
Now that you know about the five types of water heaters, here are some things you must consider
Initial Cost
The cost of the water heater itself and the installation are important to consider. You want something that stays within your budget. However, we must consider savings in the long run as well. Some water heaters have a higher initial cost but promise savings through energy efficiency, like condensing or solar water heaters.
Water Supply
The available water depends on the size of the tank attached to the water heater. Tankless water heaters have a near-infinite supply, except it may not be able to manage several demands of water at a time.
Water heaters with a tank can handle several demands until the tank runs out of hot water. Then, you will need to wait again. So, tankless solutions are better for smaller families.
Energy Efficiency
After the initial cost, your water heater will incur a monthly cost. It depends on the amount of energy it uses. For example, the conventional water heater uses the most energy. It has the highest monthly fee, and the solar water heater uses none. It has nearly no monthly cost but a high initial cost.
