Buying a New Water Heater? Here’s 4 Factors you’ll need to Consider

Bay Area homeowners have all kinds of options when it comes to buying a new water heater. When you’re choosing a new model for your home, you have to pick a unit that can operate efficiently and meet the needs of your family. The four crucial factors listed below will help you narrow down your choices.

4 factors to consider when buying a new water heater for your Bay Area home

• 1. Fuel type. Water heaters can be heated by a number of different fuel sources. The two most common fuel sources in Bay Area homes are natural gas and electricity. When you’recomparing gas and electric water heaters, one of the most important things to consider is each unit’s annual operating costs. Although gas water heaters are typically a bit more expensive to install than electric water heaters, the operating costs of gas water heaters is much lower and will result in long-term savings on your utility bills.
• 2. Your house’s demands. It’s important that the water heater you choose is sized correctly for your home. You don’t want to pay more for a water heater that’s too large, but you also don’t want a unit that’s too small to meet the demands of your home when you need hot water the most. When you’re buying a new water heater, make sure its first-hour rating is big enough for your home and your family’s water consumption habits.
• 3. Tankless vs. traditional. Traditional water heaters store hot water in a tank that your home draws from whenever it needs hot water. If the tank runs out of hot water (something you’ve likely experienced when multiple people shower in a home), your water goes cold until the tank is refilled and reheated. Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, don’t use a tank like traditional water heaters. Instead, they heat water on-demand. This allows for unlimited hot water in your home. Weigh the pros and cons of tankless water heaters before deciding which one is right for your home.
• 4. Energy efficiency. You can determine the efficiency of a water heater by looking at its energy factor (EF). The higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater and the less expensive the unit will be to operate. If you want to make sure that you select an efficient model, look for the Energy Star label on the unit. These units have an EF of at least 0.67 and have met the efficiency standards set by the EPA.

If you have any questions about buying a new water heater, or if you’d like a plumbing system serviced or installed in your home, contact Cabrillo, your Bay Area plumbing, heating and cooling company.