Homeowners rarely think about their water heater or its vital contribution to the convenience of modern living. Likewise, relatively few think about hot water’s surprisingly high price tag - $400 to $600 per year for an average family, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program. How could an everyday home essential cost so much? There’s a simple explanation: conventional water heaters are notoriously inefficient, accounting for about 20 percent of total household energy consumption (and 20 percent of each utility bill). The good news is that in recent years, a flood of innovative, high-efficiency water heaters have come onto the market. Unfortunately, too many homeowners just replace their units with the same energy-guzzling conventional models. To transition smoothly to a high-efficiency unit, Harvey Baker recommends beginning to plan for a new water heater well before you’re faced with an emergency situation. At Harvey Baker Plumbing, they will walk you through all of the options, weighing the pros and cons to each type of competing hot water heater, and help you determine which would be best for you and your family.

Conventional Water Heaters

Conventional water heaters have been a familiar fixture in most homes for years. They produce hot water from the top of the storage tank when the hot water tap is turned on. As the hot water is depleted, cold water flows in to the bottom of the storage tank, thus refilling the reservoir automatically.

Pros: Low initial cost - compared to the more technologically-advanced and energy-efficient models on the market, conventional water heaters are easier to install and the unit itself is less expensive.

Cons: Highly inefficient and limited hot water supply - unlike their competing models, conventional water heaters are plagued by standby heat loss. Water is constantly being heated so energy is always being used, and wasted, even when the hot water is not being used - this is called standby heat loss. Most conventional water heaters hold from 20 to 100 gallons of hot water; this means that you could eventually run out of hot water, especially if you use lots of hot water at one time.

Recommendation: If you’re only planning on living in your home for less than the next five years, then this is a great economical choice.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand or instant water heaters, have many advantages over conventional water heaters and can be an excellent long-term investment.

Pros: Energy-efficient, long-term cost savings, and never-ending hot water - unlike conventional water heaters, tankless water heaters only expend energy when you turn on the hot water tap or when you’re using appliances. Due to the fact that the water is heated as it passes through the tankless water heater, they have the ability to produce an endless supply of hot water, they take up less space, have a lower risk of leaking, are safer, and have a significantly longer lifespan on average.

Cons: Higher upfront cost, slower hot water delivery, and no hot water during a power outage - the main disadvantage of tankless water heaters is their upfront cost (unit and installation) is significantly higher than conventional water heaters and cost, on average, three times more than their conventional counterpart. Tankless water heaters also take longer to delivery hot water, the water temperature can be inconsistent when multiple outlets are on simultaneously, and they cannot provide hot water during a power outage.

Recommendation: If you’re planning on living in your home for more than the next five years, consider this an option as you will recoup your higher initial costs with the long-term savings of energy efficiency.

Hybrid Water Heaters

Take the heat pump water heater’s level of efficiency, the ability to generate warmth through electrical resistance like a tankless water heater, AND add in a storage tank for hot water like the conventional water heater - you get the hybrid water heater! The hybrid water heater works by drawing heat from the surrounding air and using that ambient heat to warm the water in the storage tank.

Pro: Highly efficient, cools the space around them, and adaptable - due to the heat pump technology where the water heater draws heat from the surrounding area and the heating coils are only activated when the ambient heat isn’t enough to adequately heat the water, this technology not only result in a greater cost savings to you but a cooler space in the surround area (expect a 10 to 15 degree difference in your garage, if that’s where your water heater is located). Many units have a control panel where you can switch the settings to meet your household’s hot water needs, meaning this water heater can adapt when needed for large families, family that decides to stay with you for the holidays, or when you’re away on vacation.

Cons: Larger unit size and location requirements - due to the heat pumps location on top of the storage tank, these units may not work in some spaces with lower ceilings. The unit must also be installed in a location that offers more than 1,000 cubic feet or surrounding air from which to draw heat and the location can not be one that the temperature gets lower than 40 degree Fahrenheit (that’s why they’re a perfect match for Florida residents).

Harvey Baker Plumbing will help you with any questions you have about which option is best for your home. Contact them today for a quote!

Harvey Baker

Harvey L. Baker is a certified Orlando plumbing contractor licensed in the State of Florida. He has been in the residential and commercial plumbing industry since 1984 and currently holds licenses as the following:

Certified Plumbing Contractor (FL CFC056875), Certified Backflow Tester (FL #800), Certified Backflow Repairer (FL #3009), Wastewater “C”, Infiltrator Systems (FLEQ2082) and Certified Renovator (EPA RRP 140520 Lead/Asbestos/Mold).

“Honesty Without Question” is not just his slogan, it’s how he conducts business.

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