Getting a new water heater can be a confusing project. There are so many different brands and models that comparing them can be difficult. The water heater in your home is used every single day for bathing and cleaning. You want to make sure that you get one that fits your home and will be able to provide enough hot water. At Brooks Plumbing, we provide complete water heater installation in Olympia WA. We want our customers to be comfortable in their homes and to get a water heater that is right for their home. That’s why we’ve put together a quick guide for how to compare water heater models.
Water Heater Capacity
Perhaps one of the main considerations you need to think about is how big a water heater you need have installed in your Olympia, WA home. There are many useful guides available to help you. If your old water heater wasn’t able to provide you with enough hot water then you would obviously want to compare the tank size and get a larger one. For the average 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms home a 50 or 60 gallon water heater tank is sufficient.
Water Heater Fuel
If you’re interested in changing the fuel you use to heat your water in your Olympia home you’ll need to compare the initial investment and ongoing cost of each system. Gas and electricity are the two main fuel sources for water heaters. Electric water heaters are generally less expensive up front but cost more to operate because they require more fuel. Electric water heaters also don’t need to be vented outside because they don’t burn fuel. However, gas systems normally cost less to run because gas is almost always cheaper than electricity and they require less fuel to operate. Also, gas water heaters are not impacted by power outages.
Water Heater Efficiency
Like most appliances, water heaters are given an efficiency rating. Your water heater likely comprises a large portion of your utility bill so getting an efficient one is crucial. Water heaters are given an Energy Factor (EF) rating that describes how efficiently they convert fuel into heat and how well they retain that heat. You should try to get a water heater with an EF rating as close to 1 as possible. Water heaters with EF ratings of .62 or higher are typically very good.
There are also new water heaters that are not given an EF rating. Instead they are rated based on their Thermal Efficiency. These water heaters can have a 90+% thermal efficiency rating which is very good.
If you’re interested in water heater installation in Olympia, WA call the experts at Brooks Plumbing today. Our Olympia plumbers can help you pick out a new water heater and then install it for you so that it works well for as long as possible. Contact Brooks Plumbing today!
