Water Heater Efficiency Ratings

Nobody wants to pay more for energy bills than they have to. This is why you should be very careful with the appliances you buy. Most modern appliances carry with them efficiency ratings so that you can compare just how much they are going to add to your monthly energy bills. Water heaters are no exception.

A water heater can consume up to as much as 15 percent of your monthly energy bill. If you are in the market to replace an old or broken one, understanding what the energy ratings of a water heater are can be critical to helping save money on energy bills. Let’s take a look at the different types of hot water heaters and the efficiencies they might offer you.

Solar Water Heaters

This is the most efficient model of hot water heater that is available to you. Having a solar water heater can save you as much as 90 percent on your energy bills. There are some catches though.

A solar hot water heater is very dependent on the environment. If there is not enough sunlight or the climate is too cold, then it will not operate as efficiently. Most solar water heaters have an electrical backup for when the sun isn’t available or when there isn’t enough energy to meet demand.

Solar heaters are also the most expensive on the market. You need to balance the energy savings against the initial cost of the heater.

Heat Pumps

Much like a heat pump can heat and cool your home, it can also be used to heat your water. Again, compared to electric heaters, you can save up to 65 percent on your energy bills. The heat pump is very climate dependent though.

If your area gets too cold in the winters, you may not be able to use them. Check with your HVAC professional in order to see if they recommend using a heat pump in your area.

Storage Water Heaters

This is probably the traditional idea you have in your head of what a water heater is: a large tank in the basement that holds a certain amount of hot water. Tank heaters come in a variety of sizes, from 20 to 80 gallons, and can be fueled by gas, oil, propane or electricity. Since the water in the tank is kept warm at all times, these are the least energy efficient.

Comparing to the standards set by energy star, high efficiency storage heaters only realize a savings of about 10 to 20 percent. On the plus side, these are the cheapest of the hot water heaters, so what you pay extra in energy bills you may save in the initial cost of the unit.

If you are thinking of having a hot water tank put in, click here to receive free quotes from trustworthy HVAC contractors in your area — no contact information required!