Water Heaters

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Water Heaters

Different types of water heaters are available to provide hot water in your home, and most fall into one of two categories: tank heaters and tankless heaters. A tank heater, also called a boiler, contains the heating source and stores hot water, and is powered with gas, electricity, or oil. Other tank options include indirect fired, heat pump, and solar water heaters. A fiberglass insulation blanket surrounded by a vinyl cover increases efficiency of hot water tanks. They should also contain a pressure relief valve to prevent dangerous steam leaks, and an adjustable thermostat. Regardless of fuel type, all tank water heaters operate similarly. Heated water from the bottom of the tank rises to the top and is accessible when a faucet turns on. Cold water enters the bottom of the tank to replace the used water and the heating cycle continues. A tank holds 20 to 80 gallons of water at a time.

Gas

In a gas heater, a burner at the bottom of the tank sends heat through a chimney that runs up the center. It may be slow to sufficiently heat water – people with a gas-powered water heater often let their shower or faucet run for a minute or so to get adequately hot – but the equipment is quiet and requires minimal maintenance, often included in the price of gas delivery service. Depending on your gas supplier’s pricing, it is also relatively economical to operate.

Electric

An electric water heater utilizes large tubes (like those in an electric oven) that run through the length of the tank and heat the water. Though extremely quiet and clean, they are also the most expensive to run and heat water slowly. In areas outside of gas and oil service ranges or when installation is prohibitive, electric water heaters may be the best option, since they do not need ventilation.

Oil

Oil water heaters cost the most to install and maintain but offer higher efficiency and immediate hot water. Relatively noiseless and clean, newer equipment is energy efficient and safe, though a service technician should annually evaluate the risk of an oil leak. Oil heaters require electricity to run the oil burner, which adds to the cost of operation. Still, local competition tends to keep oil prices generally low, and oil water heaters use less fuel than gas or electric ones, so they pay off economically.

Indirect Fired

An indirect fired water heater works well in conjunction with an oil-fired boiler used for home heating. It consists of a storage tank and circulator pump, which is connected to the boiler. When the water in the tank cools, a sensor initiates the circulation of hot water from the boiler through coils in the tank – the two sources of water never come into contact. Combination water and space heating systems cost more to operate, but installation and maintenance costs are generally lower.

Heat Pump

A heat pump contains the same components as an air conditioner but works in reverse. It uses electricity to capture heat, either from the air or with a geothermal element, and transfer it to a condenser in a storage tank to heat the water. Since heat is transferred rather than generated, it requires less electricity than a conventional electric tank heater. It functions best in a warmer climate, however, since the colder the outside air, the harder it works to extract heat.

Solar

Solar water heaters consist of solar collectors and a storage tank. Active solar heaters have circulating pumps and are more expensive than passive systems, but are also more efficient and provide more hot water. An active direct solar heater pumps water straight through the collectors and then delivers it to sites in the home. For colder climates prone to freezing temperatures, an active indirect system sends a non-freezing transfer fluid through the collectors, and then heats the water through a heat exchanger; this prevents water from freezing mid-circulation. The two types of passive systems work well for climates that rarely experience freezing temperatures, and are longer lasting and more reliable than active systems when in the proper temperatures. Solar water heaters cost more to install, but the fuel is completely free. Passive systems require little maintenance, and a solar thermal professional can service active systems as infrequently as every 3-5 years. A back-up system can compensate for particularly cloudy days or increased demand of water. The benefits of solar water heating depend on the region in which you live, and you must have the initial funds available in order to enjoy the low operational costs.

A company which specializes in solar hot water heating is Apricus which utilizes thermal solar panels to heat your home's hot water needs.  Click here for more information about solar hot water.

Tankless

ll tank heaters suffer stand-by heat loss – they generate heat even when water is not needed. Also, with gas and electric heaters, waiting for hot water while its running wastes several gallons every time. In order to combat this energy and resource loss, many homeowners choose tankless water heaters. These heat water as it flows through the device rather than storing it already heated, which eliminates the need to heat standing water. A central tankless water heater sends water on demand from one location. While cost effective, the drawback of this type of tankless system is that, depending on the system’s capacity, it cannot provide hot water to two sites simultaneously; you can’t use the shower and run the dishwasher at the same time, for example. The answer to this problem is point-of-use tankless heaters, which attach to pipes and deliver hot water directly and instantaneously at each place of use. These small apparatuses are either full-on/full-off or modulated. Modulated devices adjust to the volume and speed of water traveling through pipes and supply a consistent temperature. Point-of-use water heaters are usually powered electrically, and a central tankless system can use electricity or gas.

A combination of the two tankless options makes the most financial and efficient sense; the cost of purchasing a heater for each water source in the home is just as high as the utility costs of operating a central tankless system by itself. Installing a central tankless water heater and point-of-use heaters at distant sites will create the best system. The energy and economic savings associated with tankless systems depend on many factors, including rates for electricity, gas, and water in your area, the layout of your house, and your monthly water consumption. The downside of a tankless system is that water temperature is more likely to fluctuate and the risk of scalding is higher. For this reason, some people supplement their tankless system with a hot water booster tank, which is essentially a miniature tank water heater that kicks in to regulate temperature. It solves the problem but is expensive to operate if it’s electric.

All water heaters consume a good deal of power; according to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating accounts for 14 to 25% of home energy costs. Upgrading your system will conserve energy and save money that will eventually provide returns on your investment. Small, inexpensive measures can ensure that your existing water heating system works as efficiently as possible. For energy saving tips and advice on choosing a water heating system to suit your family’s needs, visit the Department of Energy’s website.