It’s winter, so I hope you have your hot water heater up and running (otherwise, your morning shower has got to be a miserable experience)! But it’s hard to prepare for the unexpected, and if your hot water heater has gone caput, you’ll want to act fast to replace it. How do you know what hot water heater is right for your Raleigh home?
Measure the space where the heater will be installed. If there’s not a lot of room available, you’ll probably want to go with a tankless water heater.
Are you going green? Choose a more energy-efficient hot water heater like a tankless heater or a solar thermal heater.
Consider your home energy source. Buy a hot water heater designed to work with your energy source, like gas or propane.
Check the warranty (but I didn’t need to tell you that, did I?).
We’ll leave you with this video with tips on installing a water heater, and a reminder to call Progressive Plumbing and Piping for your home water heater installation!
Are you in the market for a new water heater? The first step is to understand your current system and to decide what you want from your new one. Here’s a basic rundown of the most popular options for this major appliance:
Traditional water heaters heat and store water in a tank, usually about 40 to 50 gallons at a time. While today’s storage water heaters are much more efficient than older versions, using 10% less electricity or gas, there are still disadvantages to this common option. When the pre-heated water is used, it may take a while for the heater to replenish its tank, making you wait for your hot water.
Unlike its traditional counterpart, a tankless water heater does not store pre-heated water. Instead, this system only springs to action when hot water is needed. Heating elements located within the pipes heat water almost instantly, pumping it out at a rate between two and five gallons per minute. Tankless heaters are more energy-efficient than storage water heaters, only using energy as needed instead of maintaining water temperature constantly.
Solar water heaters harness the sun’s energy through rooftop panels. These systems utilize a tank similar to that of traditional systems and use renewable solar energy to heat the stored water. Because it uses solar energy, a solar thermal system is the most energy-efficient water heater option available.
Need help choosing the system that’s right for you? Progressive can assist you in making the right decision and can provide you with expert installation.
You may have noticed that we’re holding a contest to give away one of our great tankless water heaters. These units are great for reducing your energy bill and providing a continuous supply of hot water to your home. Simply fill out this contact form and you’re entered to win. Nice and easy! The contest ends on July 1, 2009. Make sure to check out the fine print on the contest page for all the restrictions and rules prior to entering. I hope you win!
