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It does seem easy to assume that heating services technicians get to spend the summer just lounging around – but that’s not really true at all! Heating services – even those very rare ones who do not do air conditioning too – remain busy during the summer months continuing to work on people’s hot water heaters. If you are thinking that it might be time for you to get your hot water heater replaced then let us have a conversation for a while about what that means. Hot Water Heaters The average hot water heater lasts about a decade and accounts for about a fifth of your utility bill. If your heater is getting older or seems to be on the fritz, you've got three rules to remember about getting a new water heater: -Don't rush in. -Size is important. -Efficiency is even more important. Don't Rush In I'm sure you know that only fools rush in. Though seriously, while having an ice-cold shower can really be upsetting, on the other hand buying a water heater because it is the thing that will get there tomorrow is also a really bad idea. Because you're more certainly going to end up paying for the whole new water heater when you get to realize that the quick one does not live up or provide what you need. Size is Very Important In order to determine what size your hot water heater should be, you first need to know how much water your family uses during the busiest hour of an average day. Do you have the dishwasher, washing machine, shower, and kitchen sink going at the same time on a regular basis? Or do you spread out your water usage wisely? Whatever you figure that amount to be, you should pick a water heater with an FHR -- First Hour Rating -- that meets or just barely exceeds it. The FHR is the amount of water that the tank can heat up in an hour of operation (this is as opposed to capacity, which is the amount that the tank will hold.) Oil and gas water heaters generally kick electric's butt on FHR. If your family has a truly ridiculous FHR -- like 100 gallons or more -- you may want to consider an in-line heater in addition to a standard tank heater. Efficiency is Even More Important Probably the most important part of any major household system is its Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The TCO of a water heater is determined largely by its energy efficiency, which is listed as a number between zero and one. Zero means "none of the energy the machine consumes turns into heat", and one means "100% of the energy the machine consumers turns into heat", which is physically impossible. A good electric water heater might have an efficiency of .8; a good gas heater's is anything over .6. That said, because gas is cheaper per unit than electricity, even though the electric heater is more efficient, the gas model will probably have a cheaper TCO in the long term. There are other factors to consider as well, naturally -- the material the tank is made out of (stainless steel is best, but more expensive), the insulation around the tank, the manufacturer's warranties, and any rebates your municipality offers for the purchase of energy-efficient heaters can influence your decision. Just don't rush in, and think everything through -- this choice will affect you for up to another decade or beyond, so do your research, and get a professional installation from your local heating services. At Blue Bell HVAC Inc. we deliver quality and value. If you are looking for fair heating repair services, please click here to request a consultation
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