How to Choose a New Water Heater

Water heaters are a necessary part of every home. Unfortunately, even the best water heater will need replaced at some point. You may be wondering what you should be looking for when you are looking to replace your water heater. Here are some of the things that you should keep in mind when you are searching for a new water heater.

First Hour Rating, Not Tank Capacity

Your first thought may be to grab the largest capacity tank that can fit in your house. However, buying a water heater merely on the size of the tank is not the best measure you can use for selection. First Hour Rating (FHR) is more important than tank size. This will let you know just how much hot water a tank can deliver during a busy hour of usage. FHR is also used on tankless hot water systems. Looking at the FHR rating will give you a much better idea of how much hot water your new heater can deliver to your home.

Warranties

You may be thinking you are saving a few dollars on your water heater with a cheaper model, but truth is you may be missing out on a key component of your purchase: the warranty. Warranties vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. They may also vary depending on the model that you chose. Look carefully at the warranty before you buy, as it is your first line of defense if something goes wrong with your water heater.

Energy Factor

Sure, your water heater and the installation are going to cost money. The real cost of a water heater over its lifetime id the energy costs to keep your water warm. The best way to gauge the cost of your purchase is the energy factor (EF). The EF is a measure of how efficient your water heater is when taking into account things like recovery efficiency, cycling and standby losses. The higher the EF is, the more efficient your water heater is going to be. Also factor into the efficiency the cost of the utility that is powering it. Natural gas tends to be cheaper than electricity, so while the EF may be lower for a gas unit, the overall costs may be more favorable.

Fuel Type

Water heaters can operate on several different types of fuel. Electricity and gas are the most common, but other fuels like heating oil or propane are available if you would like a heater to use them. Carefully consider both the cost of the energy source, the availably as well as what you currently have installed before choosing your energy source.

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