What to Keep in Mind When Getting A New Water Heater

If you are tired of coming home from a long day at work only to find you have no hot water, it may be time to consider buying a new water heater. We rely on our home’s water heaters for various needs – from hot showers to washing dishes and clothing – your water heater is an essential part of your home. Because water heaters tend to last for decades at a time, many homeowners will be purchasing a new water heater for the first time – leaving some asking where to start when choosing a new one.

Here at KCA Services, we’re experts when it comes to choosing and installing water heaters. Here are a few things to keep in mind when picking out a new water heater.

What Kind of Water Heater Do I Need?

Although there are various subcategories of water heaters, the two you need to consider foremost are the traditional and tankless heaters. There are several pros and cons to both.

Some advantages of traditional water heaters include:

• A lower installation cost
• Simpler repairs and lower cost maintenance
• Due to a large variety, they can be a bit more affordable at the beginning

However, some downsides of traditional water heaters include:

• They also have a slightly higher utility bill
• Take up much more space
• They tend to have more maintenance issues than a tankless water heater

Some advantages of tankless water heaters include:

• Cost less in the long run
• Require little maintenance and have a longer life expectance
• Can produce hot water quicker

Some drawbacks of tankless water heaters include:

• A higher purchase price
• A costly installation
• They can struggle to keep up with multiple showers

It’s best to weigh the options yourself and talk with a water heater expert about other pros and cons.

How Much Space Do I Have To Spare?

If you decide to go with a standard water heater, you’ll need to think about how much storage space you can spare for the tank. Standard water heater tanks hold 20 to 50 gallons of water. If you have a large family or just use a lot of hot water, you can also consider a double water heater or go with a much larger water heater. Of course, if you don’t have much space to spare, or you don’t use much hot water, consider a tankless water heater.

What Energy Source Will I Be Using for the Water Heater?

Before picking out the perfect water heater, you need to check what sort of energy source options you have? The last thing you want to do is buy a water heater that isn’t compatible with your energy options. There are a lot of options when it comes to energy sources, here are a few:

Electricity

This is the most common and most widely available option for water heater energy. Electricity will work with both tank and tankless heaters, so you don’t have to worry too much about compatibility. Electricity will also be the most cost-effective option.

Fuel Oil

Fuel oil tanks are only available in select parts of the United States and can be more expensive to install and operate. They can also require a lot of cleaning. However, you’ll get your money’s worth as these tanks can be very efficient.

Propane

Propane is often used in place of electricity for tankless water heaters. Similar to fuel tanks, you’ll get your money’s worth, especially if you use little hot water. However, if you use a lot of hot water or have a large family, the cost can go up quickly.

Contact KCA Services

Choosing a water heater is tricky and installing it can be even harder. If you want a hassle-free installation process and want help choosing the perfect water heater for your home, contact KCA Services today. KCA offers a variety of home utility services from air conditioning and heating maintenance, plumbing and various water heater services. We can repair your water heater or install a new one.

If you are in Boerne, Texas, contact us today!