The need to get hot water is real, not only on an industrial scale but also for household usage. It is required for washing purposes as well as cleaning purposes. As the needs of people have increased with every passing day, the technology has kept pace as well. Consequently, the need for hot water has resulted in the invention and improvement of water heaters.
While a water heater is an essential need of every house now, there are a few factors involving this technology that you need to know in order to purchase the right one. Here are some of the most important points related to a water heater:
Heater VS Boiler
It is very easy to get confused between a boiler and a heater and most people think that both are the same as the purpose of both is to heat water. Therefore, unless you are a plumber, it is only natural to mix up the two.
However, there is a very basic different between the two. A water heater works by heating the water using electricity or gas as the source of energy. A water heater generally comes with a tank as well. After the water is hot enough, it may be stored until it is transported to the desired destination that may be any fixture calling for hot water. This fixture could be anything ranging from the shower and sink to the laundry machine. Then, in a cycle that continues, the water heater takes in fresh water and heats it.
On the other hand, the boiler not only heats the water but also, as the name suggests, it actually boils it. As a result of this activity, steam is generated, which can be used in a number of ways.
Powering the water heater
There are several ways of powering your water heater. For example, it can be powered by the help of solar energy by mounting a solar panel on the roof. Similarly, you can make use of gas by investing in a gas-fired water heater. However, you must make sure that you have the FVIR (flammable-vapor ignition resistance) feature. This amazing feature is responsible for preventing a flashback fire. Moreover, you must have carbon monoxide detectors installed if you plan to keep the gas-fired unit inside the home.
For tank system water heaters, you can opt for a glass-lined tank. This glass lining is responsible for preventing or reducing corrosion. This means you do not have to worry a lot about tank leaks. In order to curtail the mineral deposit build-up that may occur at the water storage tank’s bottom, you should also opt for anti-scale devices. This is important because the mineral deposit build up can decrease the life span of a tank.
Water heaters—with or without tanks
While some water heaters have storage tanks installed where they store the water after it is warmed up, there are other systems that do not require the presence of a tank. Basically, these tankless water heaters do not store water but heat it as it passes through the system. Tankless water heaters come in different sizes and are used for supplying water to various sources including faucets, an entire room, or even the whole house.
While tankless water systems are more expensive, you do not have to wait for the water within the tank to be heated completely if you run out of hot water. Instead, it heats the water right before you get it. Moreover, there is simply no need for you to worry about tank leakage. Additionally, these systems make use of electricity as a source of energy for heating the water, which is responsible for reducing the bills.
Here is some additional information that you need to have, concerning tankless water heaters.
Going Green with tankless water heater
Irrespective of whether you use gas or electricity for heating of your water, using on-demand tankless water heaters can allow you to benefit from it because of its 99% energy efficiency. The United States Department of Energy provides this estimation. The amount of money you will be able to save because of this depends on the amount of water you use on a daily basis though. According to the US Department of Energy, a saving of 27% to 50% is possible on your gas bill and the final saving depends on the factor of consumption.
When you are making a final decision concerning whether you want a tankless water heater or a normal one, you must consider the option of saving more by earning a rebate. Talk to the gas company concerning the available rebate offers. This can be extremely beneficial as some gas companies provide rebates of as high as $500 rebates for people converting to tankless water heaters.
Tankless water heater—Convenient and comfortable
Here is another major advantage of tankless water heaters. As they heat up the water as part of the process instead of storing for later use, a person always has easy access to hot water. They can use it for as long as they want, which is an advantage they may not have in case of stored hot water.
Small and Mountable
As you know, traditional water heater systems are often bulky and may take up large space. If you do not have much space and you are looking forward to fit the water heater in a small cabin, tankless water heaters work best.
Other advantages of Tankless water heaters
Tankless hot water systems have several other advantages over the traditional water heaters as well. For example, tankless water heaters are reported to last longer than any traditional water heater.
So are you ready to invest in a reliable tankless hot water system? Contact Mesa Plumbing for further information on the topic.