Understanding Energy Efficient Water Heaters
There are water heaters that use different types of fuel and also heat water in different ways which affects the efficiency of the appliance. You need to understand these basic features before you decide to look for a new model to use in your home. It is very likely that your existing water heating appliance has come to the end of its life and you are looking for a new model as a replacement.
Water heaters last for about 20 years, so the existing unit that you have at home will be out of date, not very efficient in heating water and probably does not provide you with enough hot water for the whole family. You may even be thinking that you are going to have to buy a unit that holds more water than the one you have in order to provide a sufficient amount of hot water. You will be happy to know that this does not have to be the case. In fact, you may be pleasantly surprised to know that you could even get away with a smaller tank.
Water heaters that are now being produced are very energy efficient and they do a very good job at heating water more efficiently and quicker. Each unit is rated by an Energy Factor (EF) of up to 1. You will not find a water heater that reaches 1, but you can find brands that come pretty close to the mark. If you want a top energy efficient unit, you need to look for a model that has an EF of more than 0.9. You also need to make sure that the model has the Energy Star stamp of approval.
Tank water heaters can be quite efficient at keeping water hot and to provide large households with enough hot water. If you live in a smaller home that only has 2 bathrooms, you may want to look at buying a tankless model instead. These are the most efficient units on the market, besides solar water heaters. The reason is because tankless appliances do not store large amounts of water that has to be constantly heated to a desired temperature. Tankless models heat water on demand. This means that water is heated as and when needed by family members and appliances.
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