Tank Water Heaters
Traditional tank water heaters provide steady, dependable hot water for millions of home owners every day. If you decide it’s time to replace your existing hot water heater or you need information about the difference between the various models on the market today, take the time to consult with a professional.
Wickstrom Plumbing, Heating & Cooling provides hot water heater installation, repair and maintenance for customers across the Boise area. We can walk you through the process of choosing a style, type and brand for your new tank water heater. Call us today to learn more about the options we have available.
Choosing a Tank Water Heater
In choosing a new hot water heater, the first thing to consider is fuel. Your home already has access to at least one form of fuel. If you use natural gas for heating, it will be perfect for water heating as well, due to the low cost of both the tank water heater and the fuel supply.
However, if you use electric or oil for your home heating, electric water heating may be necessary. There are energy efficient varieties for all three fuel types, so it’s usually best to match the type of water heater you want to the style of heating you currently have in your house.
Beyond your fuel type, the size of your tank hot water heater is important. If you choose a size that’s too small, you’ll run out of hot water frequently, but if you choose one that is too big, you’ll waste energy keeping a lot of extra water heated twenty–four hours a day. Generally, most people opt for a size only slightly larger than the amount of water they use on a regular basis.
For this to work, you’ll first need to measure how much hot water your family uses. We provide helpful estimates based on the number of people in your home, the number of bathrooms and the efficiency of your current fixtures. There are low flow and energy efficient models for all of your fixtures that use hot water that will reduce your hot water consumption as well. If you still have older models in place, you are probably using a lot more hot water than is necessary.
Once you know roughly how much water you consume each day, review the FHR (first hour rating) of your selected tank hot water heater to determine if it will provide enough heated water in a single hour of use. The goal is to find a hot water heater that provides enough warmth without being too powerful. Tanks that are too powerful use much more energy than you need and cost more to operate.
Tank Water Heater Fuel Efficiency
Beyond the fuel type and tank capacity, the fuel efficiency of a tank hot water heater is something to consider. With technology advances in recent years, your new hot water heater is guaranteed to be more efficient than your old one. Review the EF and per hour rates for your hot water heater before making a decision, however, to ensure you get the most out of your new system. Our technicians will help you review what each of these factors mean and how they will affect your monthly hot water bill.
If you’re ready to make the move and buy a new hot water heater for your home, give Wickstrom Services a call. Our Boise and Nampa metropolitan area technicians and plumbers will walk you through every step of the process, from determining your water usage to matching a high efficiency, durable model to your home. Rest assured that when you call us, you get the best possible service every step of the way.
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