There are many important factors that you should always consider when buying a new water heater. One of the most important considerations is the type of water heater based on its functional design. You have to decide whether to buy a conventional storage water heater, which comes with a reservoir or storage tank for holding the heated water, or a tankless model, which does not have a reservoir and heats water on demand. You can also buy a hybrid heat pump water heater that sucks heat from the surrounding air and uses it to heat water in a reverse refrigeration technique. Another key consideration is the fuel type used by the water heater. You must ensure that you choose a fuel type that is available in your locality from the various fuel choices including electricity, geothermal energy, propane, natural gas, fuel oil, and solar.
Another important factor that you should always consider is the capacity or output of the water heater to ensure that it is capable of furnishing all the hot water needs in your homestead. The functional design of the water heater will determine its efficiency but you should also ensure proper plumbing installation if it is a conventional storage model. In addition to all these considerations, you should also consider the following unique product specifications when buying a new water heater.
If you are buying a conventional storage water heater, you should always consider the issue of mineral scale buildup in the tank. Some modern models feature special features that are specially designed to reduce mineral scale buildup at the bottom of the reservoir tank. These anti-scale devices swirl the water repeatedly to keep the mineral scale from settling at the bottom of the tank. And remember that the heating element can be affected by the mineral scale buildup at the bottom of the tank. This feature is quite functional but not very necessary. As long as your water heater has excellent warranty of 12 years, then you do not have to worry about the heating element.
The most preferred displays on any water heater model are digital. You should always pick digital displays because they are easy to read and will hence enable you to customize or set all operations and monitor functionality. Modern water heaters feature an array of control features on their digital displays that help to set and monitor the functionality and technical health of the unit.
The warranty of various types of water heaters mainly depends on their functional designs. Tankless water heaters last the longest with warranties of up to 20 years. Conventional storage models last half as long with warranties of between 8 and 12 years. Some low quality water heaters have warranties as short as 3 years. You should always pick the highest possible warranty to save repair expenses paid for various DC water heater services and to avoid premature replacement of your home water heating unit. Water heaters with longer warranties come with larger heating elements that heat water quickly and thicker insulation to preserve heat energy in the heated water.
You should choose a water heater with durable drain valves and tank lining. Choose a water heater with brass drain valves instead of plastic valves and a well insulated glass-lined reservoir or storage tank to reduce corrosion. Talk to your trusted plumber and let his experience and expertise help you choose your best option and model.