Your water heater is not meant to last forever, unfortunately. Eventually you will see the signs that your heater is likely to give out on you.
Before it goes, it pays to do a little research to understand if you should buy the same type of heater, or if you actually need something different.
There are different types of water heaters out there now, so your options are wide open. How to choose the right kind of water heater?
In this article, I will go over what your options are so you can make an informed decision before you buy.
Hybrid water heaters
Also known as a heat pump, a hybrid water heater is a cross between a tankless water heater and a traditional tank. It does still have a water storage tank, but the way the water is heated is the major difference.
Instead of keeping a tank full of water hot at all times, which is wasteful, a hybrid water heater pumps hot air to heat a small amount of water to send to the tap while the rest of the water in the tank heats up.
You can set a timer to have the tank hot during certain times of the day when your hot water demand is high.
The downside of a hybrid is you still risk a tank leaking which can cause water damage and a call to a company like United Restoration to clean up the damage.
Solar water heater
Solar water heating has been around a long time. Recent advances in absorber technology has made it much more efficient than ever.
The way they work is that a black panel is installed on the roof that has pipes of water underneath. As the sun heats the panel, the water is also heated. Then the hot water is collected in a tank where it is hot and ready to go when you need it.
There is a passive type that is easy to install and maintain, but is not very efficient. Most modern homes will require one with a circulation system.
If you live in a cold and cloudy area, then you may not always get hot water. In which case you will need a back up system that will heat your water when the sun can’t get the job done.
Tankless water heater
These heaters are gaining in popularity in the US even though they have been in use around the world for decades.
They heat water in a heat exchanger as the water enters. This is far more efficient than having standing water in a tank being heated all day when you don’t need it. You only heat the water at the time you turn it on so there is no loss of resources.
There are, of course, pros and cons with tankless water heaters and they are not ideal for every situation. If you live in a very cold area, then your water might not get hot enough for you, for instance.
