What You Need to Know
About Water Heating

home remodeling articles and tips

topic: water heating
by Jami J. Rodgers

Water Heaters Come in Many Forms

Storage water heaters are the most common type of water heater in the U.S. today and hold anywhere from 20-80 gallons. These heaters can be run by electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil, sand heat the water and store it in an insulated tank. In contrast, instantaneous water heaters eliminate the storage tank and only heat water when it is needed. These types of home water heaters are growing in popularity and are generally more energy efficient than their storage tank counterparts.

Heating Your Home’s Water with Heat Pump, Indirect, and Solar Water Heaters

Yet another type of water heater, which uses a heat pump, does not rely on generating heat directly. These types of home water heaters use one-third to one-half as much electricity as a conventional electric resistance water heater.  Another option is an indirect water heater which uses your boiler as the heat source. Indirect water heaters, when used with high-efficiency boilers or furnaces, generally have the lowest operating costs among water heating technologies. In contrast, solar water heaters use energy from the sun to heat water. While the start-up costs of installing a solar water heater are high, it can be cost effective for the right climate, and if supported by tax credits.

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