In the past few years the water heater industry has experienced a few shakeups. All of which are thanks to the mandates in higher water heater efficiencies, new technologies and consumers making a shift towards tank-type water heaters.
All of these shakeups have left homeowners really confused about what kind of water heater to purchase and what to consider before purchasing one. So if you’re planning to enter this chaos and get yourself a new water heater, then you should definitely go over the following considerations.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a New Water Heater
1) - What is NAECA 3?
If you have been doing a little online research of your own, you would have definitely come across the acronym ‘NAECA 3’. This translates to the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act 3 and it signifies the regulation of energy consumption in terms of some major and common household appliances.
This latest revision had gone into effect all the way back in 2015 and it had called for higher ratings for water heater’s energy efficiencies. Water heater tanks now need to be better insulated in order to minimize their heat loss which means it has the same volume but a larger size because of insulation. In some instances, the Act also calls for some other solutions for these water heaters.
So what would this mean for you? If you have a water heater which was purchased before the NAECA 3 regulation, then you should expect for your new installation to grow in size. Your new water heater will approximately grow 2 inches in height and 2 inches in diameter.
2) - How Is Your Water Heater Powered?
Now we will be discussing the type of fuel your water heater uses. Your water heater will either be powered by electricity, natural gas or propane. Typically, these costs will be higher when the water heater uses propane simply because the natural gas is much more expensive as opposed to electricity.
The most common sources for fuel in water heaters are known to electricity and natural gas. Among these two, the latter is the cheaper source and when you’re shopping for your water heater you will really have to put a thought into your utility bill.
Quite similarly, you will have to think about whether your home has better supply of electricity or natural gas. There are some home that tend to receive interrupted supplies of natural gas sue to their location. Electricity, on the other hand, isn’t normally interrupted.
3) - Where Is Your Hot Water Heater Located?
You need to know this because of the problems you may face because of the NAECA 3 regulations. There have been too many instances where people had gotten themselves a NAECA 3 compliant water heater only to find that their existing space was too small for the new installations.
In order to solve this problem, we will recommend actually downsizing to tankless units because they will require no space at all. If, however, you current space for water heaters is quite sufficient, then you can keep your options open. Either way, you wouldn’t be sacrificing too much on their capacities of available hot water. That will only be the case if you have too many people in your home who are need hot water.
While we’re on the topic, you can go ahead and also consider the placement of your new water heater. This should be done in scenarios like hot water taking too long to reach the master bedroom solely because of where the water heater is placed.
4) - What is Your Starting Groundwater Temperature?
If you’re considering getting yourself a tankless electric water heater, then you need to be sure whether your home is sized properly. In simple words, this means calculating the amount of power you need to achieve a desired temperature.
This is why measuring the groundwater temperature of your home is important. If your home is in a colder climate, your water heater is going to take up more power to make the water reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit (the average temperature of a hot shower).
Similarly, if you live in an area with warmer temperature, then you should consider the appropriate groundwater temperature of your home as a starting point.
5) - How Much Hot Water Does Your Home Use at Any Given Point of Time?
The flow rate of your home signifies the rate at which water flows for your installed hot water fixtures into your home. In terms of tankless electric water heaters, there will be a direct relationship between the flow rate of the fixture and the power that is supplied to it. The higher the flow rate is going to be, the lower the output temperature is going to be – that is, if the power remains constant.
That being said, it is quite common for water heater tanks to run out of water in fixtures that have a high-flow rate. Due to this, it is often recommendable to make use of fixtures which have low-flow rates. In some states like California, however, the laws actually govern the use of fixtures in terms of high-flow and low-flow rates.
Purchasing a new water heater is a big deal – and there is so much more to it than the price tag. With all of the above considerations, you may still need an expert opinion. Don’t know who to ask? Mesa Plumbing Company can help you out!
Mesa Plumbing Company
Mesa Plumbing Company has a lot of experience when it comes to water heater systems and they will be able to determine the best system for your needs. So what’re you waiting for? Mesa Plumbing Company is your one stop shop for plumbing issues. Place your trust in our experts and visit our website to find out more. You may also call us at (480)-832-1660.