Practical Hints to Remember When Purchasing a Hot Water System
If you are planning to buy a new hot water system, you must be wondering how you'll find the best system. Ideally, you are required to select a heater that suits your home's requirements and budget. Since the market offers different forms of hot water systems today, you might find it challenging to pick the right one. Luckily, there are various metrics you can consider to make an informed choice. This way, your family will enjoy taking showers, cleaning dishes, and doing other simple household chores that could be a challenge if you do not have warm water. Keep these tips in mind the next time you decide to buy a hot water system.
Source of energy
When you do your research, you will realise that water heaters use different sources of energy to function. Since switching from one source of energy to the other is costly, it's advisable to pick the type you currently have. Electric hot water systems are the most popular type, followed by their gas counterparts. Gas heaters require piping and vents that aren't compatible with the electrical heaters. If you choose gas heaters, you'll need to choose between natural or propane gas. The last thing you want is to buy a heater only to realise that it is not compatible with the gas you use. The market also provides solar water heaters for those who want to go green and reduce their heating costs in the long run.
Heater's capacity
Hot water requirements usually vary from one home to another. As such, it is advisable to get a water heater that can meet your unique requirements. Usually, this is determined by the water heater's capacity. A small tank should be able to meet the needs of a small family or one person. Larger families, on the other hand, need bigger tanks. The usage may also vary from family to family, so at some point, a small tank might not be suitable for a small family. Consider hiring a professional to assess your needs so you can make an informed choice.
Heating element and tank quality
If you use hard water in your home, you will need to be careful while selecting your water heater. The heating element and tank materials come in contact with the hard water and will be exposed to the magnesium and calcium, which causes scaling. If the material used to make the components and the tank isn't strong enough to resist corrosion, the efficiency of the heater will be affected and its lifespan will be shortened too. It's better to opt for a corrosion-resistant water heater.