A functional water heater is an essential part of any modern home. Whether you’re building a new house or looking to replace your old water heater, you should take some time to determine what kind of new water heater will best serve your home. Water heater technology has likely come a long way since the last time you bought a unit. Below are a few tips to consider when it’s time to buy a new water heater. Once you make your choice, have a Jacksonville plumber install your new water heater.

Consider the Size of Your Household

Correctly sizing your water heater is important for ensuring its longevity and effectiveness. If you purchase a water heater that’s too small, you will run out of hot water quickly and your unit will likely fail in a few years. When choosing a water heater, be sure to factor in the size of your household. Generally speaking, a 60-gallon tank unit should suffice for a family of four.

Determine Which Fuel Type to Use

It’s also important to determine which fuel type will power your water heater. If you’re replacing an old water heater, it’s probably easiest to get a new unit that uses the same type of fuel. If you’re installing a unit in a new construction home, you’ll need to research which fuel types are available in your area. Natural gas and propane are efficient and effective fuel sources, and they’re both widely available.

Save Money with an Energy-Efficient Water Heater

Consider buying the most energy-efficient water heater you can afford. You’ll find that the extra cost will be offset by years of energy savings, and you’ll be helping the environment, too. Look for the blue Energy Star label on new water heaters, and consider getting a tankless model. Tankless water heaters heat water on demand as opposed to traditional tank models, which constantly use energy to keep water hot.

New water heater installation is almost always an ordeal. In addition to spending several hundred dollars, you have to decide exactly which kind of replacement water heater to buy. As you narrow down your options, you should learn about some of the differences between traditional tank and new tankless water heaters.

In this video, a plumbing expert discusses tank and tankless water heaters. A tank water heater heats and stores water inside a tank, then distributes the water when it’s called for. A tankless water heater, on the other hand, heats water as it enters the home and sends it straight to the appropriate fixture. Tank water heaters have an average efficiency rating of 62%, while tankless water heaters have an amazing 92-95% efficiency rating. To save money on energy, you might consider installing a tankless water heater in your Jacksonville home.