Which Water Heater Is Best for Your Home?
Written on: May 15, 2023
An Introduction to Water Heaters
Water heating makes up a significant percentage of your energy bills—roughly 20%. It’s not an appliance most people spend a lot of time thinking about unless something goes wrong, but your water heater works very hard to keep your family clean and comfortable by heating water for bathing, washing hands, cleaning dishes, washing clothes, and more.
Unfortunately, water heaters don’t last forever. If it’s time for you to replace your water heater, now is a good time to familiarize yourself with the various types of water heaters available and to decide which type of water heater is best for your home and your household’s needs.
Not sure which water heater is best for your home, don’t worry. Ace-Robbins is here for you. We’ll meet with you to discuss your household’s needs. We’ll explain the different options available to you. And we’ll provide you with a completely free estimate for water heater installation.
Types of Water Heaters
There are a few basic types of water heaters. Each offers different advantages.
- Conventional or Storage Water Heaters have a tank that stores and keeps water hot until it’s used. They cost less to purchase and install than tankless water heaters. However, they’re also less efficient than tankless water heaters.
- Tankless Water Heaters heat water on demand to efficiently provide an endless supply of hot water. Because no water gets heated without being used or needs to be heated again, switching to a tankless water heater can save you up to 40% on your water heating costs versus a conventional water heater. Tankless water heaters also take up less space and last twice as long as conventional water heaters. Finally, since there’s no tank, there’s also no risk of tank corrosion or tank failure.
- Indirect-Fired Water Heaters use your home’s heating system to heat your water. They’re very efficient, especially during the cooler months when your heating system is running anyway. In fact, when your boiler is running, it doesn’t cost you a penny more to heat your home’s water. Installation is more expensive than with conventional or tankless water heaters.
- Direct-Fired Water Heaters are a type of conventional water heater in which a fuel like heating oil gets burned in a combustion chamber under the tank. The heated flue gases then heat the water in the tank. The tank is equipped with insulated walls to help retain the heat. The water heater turns on automatically from time to time in order to keep the water in the tank at a predetermined temperature.
Product Recommendations
Ace-Robbins can provide water heater installation and service for all makes and models of traditional, tankless, and indirect water heaters. However, we recommend the following brands and models:
- Traditional Storage Tank Water Heater: The Bradford White oil-fired storage water heater offers exceptional recovery rates and energy-saving, clean, and reliable performance. There are five models available, in center and rear flue configurations. Bradford-White also makes propane-fired water heaters.
- Indirect-Fired Water Heater: The System 2000 from Energy Kinetics has been rated as the most efficient oil boiler in the world by Brookhaven National Laboratory. It has the lowest overall standby heat loss and the best annual efficiency performance of all heating systems tested to date.
- Tankless Water Heater: A Rinnai tankless water heater will help you save money on energy costs. It’s energy-saving, space-efficient, and can be installed just about anywhere to provide your home with an endless supply of hot water.
Quality Water Heaters
Ace-Robbins services and installs all of the top brands of water heaters. In addition to high-efficiency tankless water heaters, you can also choose from traditional tank storage water heaters and indirect water heaters that work with your boiler.
We’re here for you.
Ace-Robbins is here for our customers in Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Sullivan, and Wyoming County.
Contact Ace-Robbins today for more information on water heaters or to request a free estimate.