Most households depend on Water Heaters Denver CO to produce hot water for washing clothes, dishes, showering, and bathing. They are also used to sanitize appliances and fixtures and for general household upkeep. Tank-type heaters have an insulated storage tank that holds hot water until needed. They use either gas or electricity to heat the water.

When you shower and suddenly get a blast of cold water, that’s probably a sign your water heater isn’t working correctly. Fortunately, it’s easy to replace a water heater. You’ll need to choose the right one. Generally speaking, you have two options: a tank-type or tankless heater.

A traditional tank-type water heater has a steel tank that holds hot water. It’s insulated to prevent heat loss and has a temperature and pressure control valve to regulate the flow of hot water. Depending on the size of the tank, it can hold between 20 and 80 gallons of water. The water is heated by either an electrical heating element or a gas burner.

The energy efficiency of a conventional storage water heater can vary, but you’ll likely be able to find models that meet the regulations set by Energy Star. They might even be eligible for rebates.

While you can purchase a traditional water heater at big box stores, you’ll likely have more options if you check out your local hardware store. Many family-owned businesses sell gas and electric tank-type water heaters, and they can also help you decide on the best model based on your household’s hot water needs.

You’ll want to consider the capacity of the water heater — its size and how many people will be using it. For example, a four-person household may need a 40-50 gallons tank. A larger family might require a 75-gallon tank. You’ll also need to think about how much energy you’ll use, since a gas tank-type water heater can cost more to operate than an electric one.

Compared to a traditional storage tank, a new tankless water heater can be more energy-efficient. This type of water heater is a great choice for homes in warmer climates, as it works like an air conditioner by moving heat from the ambient air to hot water. It can be up to three times more energy-efficient than a standard electric resistance water heater. If you prefer to go with this option, make sure to hire a professional plumber to install it.

Tankless heaters

A tankless water heater doesn’t have a storage tank, but instead uses a powerful heat exchanger to instantly raise the temperature of incoming cold water when you turn on your hot water faucet. It’s powered by either gas or electricity, and it can be located near the point of use for maximum efficiency.

There are many benefits of a tankless water heater, including energy savings and reduced risk of water damage caused by a leak or rupture of the storage tank. They also eliminate standby energy losses, which are a significant factor in the higher energy costs and lower efficiency of conventional storage tank water heaters. They can be more costly to install, though some homeowners qualify for rebates on energy efficient tankless water heaters.

Compared to traditional storage tanks, tankless water heaters offer greater safety because they can precisely control water temperature. This reduces the chance of dangerous temperature spikes and prevents exposure to dissolved metals such as lead and copper that build up in stored water when it sits for extended periods of time.

Another benefit of a tankless water heater is its smaller size. They can be installed in a closet or on the wall and don’t require a large floor space like traditional storage tanks. They are less likely to cause a leak or rupture because there’s no tank, but they’re still subject to the same risks as other water heaters.

One drawback of a tankless water heater is its low flow rate, which can affect how quickly you get hot water. In some homes, especially those with a lot of appliances that need hot water at the same time (such as a shower and dishwasher), this can limit the number of people who can have the water they want.

Other drawbacks include the need for specialized parts, which makes repair and maintenance more difficult. You will also need to perform annual maintenance to prevent mineral buildup that can cause corrosion and leaks, and it may be necessary to have additional units installed in order to meet peak demand. If you are considering a tankless water heater, be sure to check out our calculators for capacity needs and energy usage so you can determine if the initial cost will pay off in energy efficiency savings.

Hybrid heaters

With a hybrid heater, you can enjoy the advantages of an energy-efficient electric heater and the capacity of a tank water heater. They use heat pumps to collect the air and rely on electricity to run the heating elements, so you can reduce your energy costs without losing hot water. Additionally, hybrid heaters can be used with solar panels for increased efficiency.

These devices are designed to meet the needs of homeowners who want to conserve energy and money while protecting their home from natural disasters. They come with a variety of features, including a built-in backup system and a digital display. They also offer a CoreGard anode and anti-corrosion coating to prevent mineral build-up. Additionally, these units have a vacation mode, which drops the temperature of the water to a safe level to save energy while you are away.

If you are looking for a hybrid water heater that has a large capacity and high energy efficiency, the AO Smith HPTU-50N Voltex is an excellent choice. This model has a 66 gallon tank and can save you up to $396 per year. It has a 3.39 energy factor and is ENERGY STAR certified. It also has a leak detector that can shut down the unit and alert you through your smart app.

Another benefit of a hybrid heat pump water heater is that you can connect it to your home’s existing electrical connections. This means you won’t have to worry about hiring an electrician or making complicated wiring changes. Most hybrid water heaters can even be connected to a solar panel for additional savings.

A hybrid water heater is an effective way to lower your energy costs, as about 17 percent of a household’s energy consumption comes from heating the water. This type of heater uses the latest technologies to improve energy efficiency, and many manufacturers offer generous warranties.

These devices are not the most expensive on the market, but they still have a higher upfront cost than a traditional gas-powered water heater. However, they will pay for themselves in energy savings and long-term savings.

Energy-efficient heaters

For homes that have a backup gas or electric heater, choosing an energy efficient model is one of the best ways to cut household energy use. These units use less fuel than standard tank water heaters and don’t produce greenhouse gases, making them more environmentally friendly.

The ENERGY STAR label indicates which heaters meet the government’s high efficiency standards. This means they can save you money and reduce carbon emissions by using up to two-thirds less energy than conventional models. If all of America’s water heaters were ENERGY STAR-certified, it would save nearly $890 million and prevent 17 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

A new federal rule requires manufacturers to update many traditional electric storage tank water heaters to improve energy efficiency. The move may initially make some electric models more expensive, but it should be offset by lower utility bills over the unit’s lifespan.

An alternative to traditional tanks is a demand or instantaneous water heater, which heats water only when you need it. This type of unit can use 24%-34% less energy than a comparable gas or electric storage tank water heater and can reduce standby losses by about half, which are the wasted energies that occur when water sits idle in the hot-water pipes.

Whether you choose a gas or an electric model, look for one with electronic ignition rather than a standing pilot light. The latter can consume 20 therms of gas per year, offsetting some of the savings you’ll enjoy by eliminating the storage tank’s standby losses.

In the case of a gas-fired unit, consider going with a sealed combustion or power vent design. Sealed combustion uses a two-pipe system to separate house air from the combustion process, while a power vent unit takes advantage of a fan to help exhaust combustion gases to the outdoors.

For a completely green option, consider a solar-powered hot water heater. NRDC’s Pierre Delforge says these units operate on the same principles as refrigerators that use solar power to stay cold and can heat your home with up to a third of the energy required by traditional gas or electric resistance or tank water heaters.