A water heater is a device that heats potable water for home use. The average lifespan of a standard tank-style residential water heater is 10–15 years or about 120 thousand to 150 thousand gallons. That comes out to about $100 per month for an older water heater in Kansas and $200-$400 per month for a newer one.
The cost difference depends on your location, the type of energy you use to heat your water and how often you use hot water - but basically, they will run from around $150-$600 when new/refurbished when they have been manufactured in recent years.
Regardless of the timing, you need to know what you're looking for before buying a water heater. This guide will show you how easy it is to compare water heaters with a little help and some key terms related to water heaters. Here's what we'll cover:
- Why You Should Buy a New Water Heater
- The Size and Capacity of a Water Heater
- How Much Hot Water You Use
- Some Key Terms for Buying a Water Heater
- Water Temperature and Energy Use
1. Why You Should Buy a New Water Heater
Old water heaters can cost as much as $300 per year to operate. That's like having a second refrigerator.
Not convinced that your water heater needs to be replaced? Here are four reasons why you should buy a new one:
Old water heaters can cost as much as $300 per year to operate. That's like having another refrigerator in your home. They waste energy and money by heating water you don't need or use. A new water heater can save you up to $300 per year, even more, if your current unit is 20 years or older. If not replaced, old water heaters can leak and cause property damage. Older units also use significant amounts of energy. They could pose a safety risk because they take longer to heat the water to a high enough temperature to kill bacteria and germs. It is best to contact a water heater repair Leawood, KS expert to check your old unit if it needs repair or a new one.
2. The Size and Capacity of a Water Heater
Sizing your water heater correctly ensures that you have enough hot water, but not too much—which wastes energy and could create safety problems if the temperature is too high. To ensure your system is sized properly:
Water Heater Sizing
Daily Usage (GPD) Divide by 3.5 to get a reasonable standby loss estimate. For example, if you use 100 gallons per day, your expected standby loss is about 28 gallons per day.
Standby Loss Multiply your total daily usage from Step 2 by 0.85 to account for the first two hours of use. A lower number means you can size down further, which could save you money on standby heat loss and still provide sufficient hot water for normal family use. If you have a heat pump or other type of water heater that doesn't depend on the flow of hot water to generate heat, use 0.75 in this step.
3. How Much Hot Water You Use
Hot water usage is typically measured per person or by total household needs (combination of all occupants).
To determine your daily usage in gallons per day, multiply the number of people in your household by 6.6 for electric heaters or 6.5 for gas heaters.
For instance, a family of 5 that uses an electric water heater needs about 47 gallons per day (5 x 6.6 = 34). To determine your total needs, add the usage of all household members. For example, a family of 5 using 47 gallons per day and 2 roommates using 25 gallons per day would need an 80-gallon heater (total 108).
4. Some Key Terms for Buying a Water Heater
Energy Factor - The higher the energy factor number (EF), the more efficient the water heater. For standard storage units, it's typically between .60 and .64.
Life-Cycle Cost - The total cost of ownership or use of a product over its lifetime compared to that of another option, such as purchasing a new unit versus repairing an old one.
Low NOx - Combines low nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions with a process that reduces the amount of carbon monoxide produced. While it's not required, this feature is beneficial to have in a new water heater.
Standby Loss - Energy consumed by your water heater when it's standing by, ready to provide hot water at a moment's notice. Standby heat loss is typically around 25% of total energy use.
5. Water Temperature and Energy Use
Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit; this will save you 6% in energy costs while still killing germs. Your household members should be able to adjust the temperature on their hot water faucet if they like it hotter or colder. You can also consider a tankless water heater, which instantly heats the water only when you need it and uses up to 40% less energy than a standard storage unit.
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