Water Heater's

Traditional Water Heaters

Traditional water heaters feature a large tank and are considered “traditional” because they are typically installed in new homes. The tank is used to store and keep water heated 24/7. Once the tank is empty, it refills and heats the water to the set temperature. The storage capacity for the tanks varies with the model and the demand for hot water in your home. Traditional water heaters can still offer low operating costs and high energy efficiency, claiming the Energy Star certification too.

Capacity.

Sizing of hot water heaters should be based on the number of occupants and their peak hour water demand and not on the size of the house. The peak hour demand or first-hour rating (FHR) is the measure of how much hot water the heater will deliver in an hour and is required by law to appear on the Energy Guide Label. Don’t buy a water heater bigger than you need, or you’ll be paying to heat water you don’t use!

Efficiency.

The “Energy Factor” (EF) indicates the energy efficiency of a storage water heater. Gas water heaters have an EF between 0.50 and 0.60, with some high-efficiency models around 0.80. The higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater. When buying a new water heater make sure to check the energy efficiency rating shown on the Energy Guide labels and look for one with at least 1.5 inches of foam insulation.

Cost.

It’s very easy to look for an inexpensive water heater and ignore the operating costs. Often the least expensive water heaters are the most expensive to operate. A high-efficiency water heater may cost a little more initially, but reduced operating costs will more then make up for the higher outlay. Check the Energy Guide label to help choose an energy thrifty heater.

For more on this please feel free to call us at:

(570) 801-2368