Water Heaters &
Tankless Water Heaters
Before you purchase a water heater for your home, it’s important to know how energy efficient it is. Usually the most energy-efficient water heater models or systems are more expensive. However, if you purchase an energy-efficient model, you may save more money in the long run on your water heating bills than if you purchase a less efficient model.
At Altstadt Hoffman Plumbing, our professional plumbing & heating contractors can help you select the perfect water heater for your home.
Next to heating or cooling, water heaters are the largest energy users in the home. They use more than 15 percent of the total energy of a home.
Storage Water Heaters
Storage water heaters are the most common. Typical residential units range in size from 30 to 80 gallons, but smaller and larger tanks are available. Most are fueled by electricity, natural gas, propane or oil. Storage water heaters heat the water in the tank to the set temperature, turn off, then turn on and off as needed to keep it hot, ready for use. When you use hot water, the unit comes on to heat the incoming cold water that replaces what you use.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters, also called instantaneous water heaters, do not store water. A gas burner or an electric element heats the water when there is a demand or a need for hot water. Hot water never runs out, as long as you don’t exceed its designed “flow rate,” and the temperature may be relatively low, around 105°F. Energy is saved, or more accurately, not wasted as there are almost no standby losses.
