Which Water Heater Type is Best for Me?

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Water heaters last a while, if they’re properly taken care of, but they don’t last forever. Sooner or later, you’re going to need to replace your water heater. Fortunately, when you do need a new water heater you have a number of different options available to you. Each water heater type is suited to a different set of individual circumstances, so it’s important that you know a bit about each one before settling on a replacement. Let’s go over some of the more popular water heater types on the market, and how each one can help you.

Tank Water Heaters

By far the most common water heater type for homes across the country, tank water heaters are a solid choice for a variety of different situations. These water heaters make use of a large storage tank (7-100 gallons, roughly) to maintain a standing supply of hot water for use at a moments’ notice. A tank water heater is quite convenient, as it can provide as much hot water as you need when you need it. It’s also more difficult to overwhelm this water heater with demand, though it is certainly possible to exhaust its supply if you use it for long enough.

There are a couple of drawbacks to using a tank water heater, though. For one thing, the system is not as energy efficient as other types of water heaters. Tank water heaters waste a lot of energy heating water 24/7 throughout the year, even when it’s not in use. That’s a lot of money spent heating water on an annual basis that you aren’t even using.

The second problem with tank water heaters is that they can take up a lot of space. That may not be a big deal, if you have plenty of extra space available. For some people, though, that’s not really an option. If you’re interested in having a high-capacity water heater, and don’t mind spending a bit more on energy costs and space, then a tank variety might be the best type for you.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters are practically the exact opposite of tank water heaters in terms of design. As the name suggests, a tank water heater does not use a storage tank. Instead, it makes use of a heat exchanger similar to the kind boilers use. Also unlike tank water heaters, a tank water heater doesn’t stay on at all times to ensure a standing supply of hot water. Instead, the system activates when hot water is called for, and heats water as it flows through the system on its way to the faucet. When the demand for hot water subsides, the system turns itself off.

Tankless water heaters are valuable to those who want to save money on operating costs, or who don’t have the space to install a tank water heater. Because tankless water heaters don’t stay on at all times, they cost less to operate on an annual basis than tank water heaters do. The lack of a storage tank also makes tankless water heaters easier to install, and in more varieties of home layout, than tank systems.

Bell Plumbing and Heating installs a variety of water heater types in Denver, CO. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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