Hot water is vital in residential properties in the US. How you heat it may vary, but often, a water heater will use the water coming in, heat it to the desired temperature, and store it until you need it. Gas and electric water heaters are both commonly used. However, they do function differently. 

Choosing Your Water Heater

Heating water in your home is not overly challenging, but you need to make a few decisions before beginning a water heater installation. If you want to use a traditional system that heats and stores the water, you need to decide how large the tank should be and how you will heat the water. 

The water heater needs to fit in the house somewhere, so if you buy one too large for your house you may have to do some extra work to install it. There are some residential-size water heaters that are popular, so taking a trip to the home center or plumbing supply store is a good starting point. 

The store associates can help you decide what will work in your home and show you the most popular and dependable water heaters they sell. If a plumber is handling your water heater installation, they can source the best water heater for your situation on your behalf. 

Gas Or Electric Water Heaters

Gas and electric water heaters are commonly used in homes when a new water heater needs to be installed. They both use tanks for water storage, and both heat the water throughout the day to ensure it stays hot, but they differ in that one uses natural gas or propane, and the other uses electric elements. 

Gas water heaters also require a gas supply, so if you live in an area where natural gas or propane is hard to get, a gas water heater installation might not be the best option. Electric water heaters are easier to install, and if you power your home with solar, wind, or some other alternative power source, you can downsize the water heater to use smaller amounts of power.

On-Demand Water Heaters

Traditional water heater installations are still in demand, but they are largely inefficient and use more resources than necessary. An alternative on-demand water heater installation can save you money and use less power because they only run when hot water is required. 

When you turn on the hot water tap, the unit comes on, heats the water with a super-efficient heating coil, and shuts off when you no longer need hot water. This eliminates the need to store the water and keep it hot all the time, and an on-demand water heater system is easily installed in your home by a residential plumbing service. 

To learn more, contact a water heater installation service near you.