choosing a new water heater

Conventional water storage heaters

Types of water heaters

• Conventional storage water heaters
  Offer a ready reservoir (storage tank) of hot water

• Demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters
  Heat water directly without the use of a storage tank

• Heat pump water heaters
  Move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly for providing hot water

• Solar water heaters
  Use the sun's heat to provide hot water

• Tankless coil and indirect water heaters
  Use a home's space heating system to heat water

Selection criteria

• Fuel type, availability and cost
  The fuel type or energy source you use for water heating will not only affect the water heater's annual operation costs but also its size and energy efficiency.

• Size
  To provide your household with enough hot water and to maximize efficiency, you need a properly sized water heater.

• Energy efficiency
  To maximize your energy and cost savings, you want to know how energy efficient a water heater is before you purchase it.

• Costs
  Before you purchase a water heater, it's also a good idea to estimate its annual operating costs and compare those costs with other less or more energy-efficient models.

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