At times, after a long, hectic, and busy day, there’s nothing more inviting than to come home and take a hot shower. That’s something that will relax you in an instant. If you’re one of those people who spend so much time in a shower, then maybe it is time to consider purchasing a good water heater.
If you’ve never owned one before, then you most likely do not have the slightest idea what the market offers when it comes to various types. But no one can blame you if you do not have any previous knowledge about them.
And that’s precisely why we are here. For those of you who are about to obtain a brand-new water heater, we decided to talk about various types out there and it’s up to you to decide which one suits you most.
The Most Common Water Heaters
Conventional Storage Tank Water Heater
This type of water heater comes with a tank that retains water that is about to be heated. This means that the holding capacity of this tank defines how much hot water you can use at once. A great thing about it is the fact that the tank is insulated, which means that the water stays warm for as long as you needed.
Additionally, a conventional storage tank contains two valves, the pressure control valve and the temperature control valve. The pressure release valve opens up to the lower pressure once it reaches around 150 psi.
On the other hand, the temperature control valve opens to relieve heat and moderate temperature once the water reaches more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This type of water heater is the most common and perfect for family homes.
Tankless Water Heater
In this case, the name says everything. Namely, this type doesn’t have a tank where you can heat the water. We’ll briefly discuss it below, however, if you’re looking for something that goes further into details, then you should check out this tankless water heater buying guide to get every single detail about it. So how can you heat the water without the tank?
Well, instead of a tank, it comes with coils that can become extremely hot when they are filled with water, giving you immediate results. Many experts find these tanks to be one of the most effective ones, heating huge amounts of water very fast.
This leads us to conclude that if you’re looking for something that can provide you with a limitless supply of hot water, then you should definitely opt for this one. With it, you’ll never experience a cold shower.
What Are Other Types Of Water Heater?
Electric Heat Pump Water Heater
This type is powered by electricity and its main goal is to amplify the heat it draws from the air, shifting precisely that heat to a quantity of water contained within the storage tank. Furthermore, this type of electric heat pump system is the best for hot climates where the technology can usually be almost three times more energy efficient in comparison to the classically designed unit.
If you’re looking for something that’s pretty safe and environmentally friendly then you should definitely opt for this one. Unlike a traditional storage-tank water heater, this one isn’t hot on the outside and doesn’t present any danger linked with heated pressurized water.
Moreover, this heat pump water heater utilizes drastically less energy, which makes it a perfect green option, unlike the other ones.
Solar-Powered Hot Water System
You can probably assume that this one uses the energy from the sun to heat the water. Just like the previous one, a solar-powered hot water system works best in places with a warmer climate. In areas where winters are long and harsh, they are practically worthless.
Additionally, this water system comes with a huge insulated tank in which hot water is kept until it’s ready to be employed. Of course, the most obvious difference when it comes to this one is how the water is heated.
Namely, these water heaters are very energy efficient and rely solely on electricity generated by their solar panels in order to heat the water in the tank. Depending on the type of system you have, this tank can be placed on the roof, along with solar panels, or anywhere else you think it’s more suitable.
Moreover, these water heaters normally come with electric backup or gas, which can be of great help in case your solar panels fail to gather enough energy.
As you can see, there are so many spectacular options when it comes to water heaters and it’s hard to pick just one. That’s why we’ve created this guide, to help you out a little, so you can make the best possible choice.