Types of Hot Water Heaters

All hot water heaters take energy in some form and convert it into heat. The heat is then passed on to water and enables you to enjoy a lukewarm shower even in a snowy, frosty season. And almost all of these typically have a thermostat to control the temperature. While this is the basic functionality of all types of water heaters, they differ in many aspects like fuel intake, efficiency, cost, etc. This article picks up some common types and elaborates briefly on how they work.

By far the most usual type of hot water heater has a tank. It's possible to buy such heaters in a variety of sizes to fit the space and needs of your house. Most of these use electricity or gas to heat the water inside their storage tanks, but you can also find them running on solar energy, fuel oil or propane. One could put the thermostat to whatever temperature and then the heater would auto-start if that temperature dropped. The unit would auto-shut off when the water within the tank reaches the set temperature. Since these heaters constantly heat up water whether you use it or not, they usually waste a good deal of energy, which means wastage of money too. So make sure you turn them off whenever you leave home for a few days.

Contrary to these, manufacturers have come up with on-demand tankless hot water heaters, which heat only when you use water. Whenever you open the tap or shower, sensors feels the water flow and the heater starts. So long as the water lines are open, hot water will begin to be available in a short amount of time. And when you turn off the tap, the heater would shut down automatically. This way, you use fuel only when you need it and save the extra expense you would usually incur when using tank-type heaters. In addition, since tankless heaters don't need any storage tanks, they also mean less space. Over time, these can be cost-effective, even if they come with a high initial price tag.

Another type that comes without a storage tank is the tankless coil water heater. These are actually part of the combined water and space heating system, and use a heating coil located inside a boiler or furnace to bring water to your desired temperature. When you open a tap, water runs through these heating coils and gets hot before coming at your end. These are ideal for extremely cold cities where the system remains on for longer durations.

If you reside in a location that receives a lot of sun during the year and you also use a lot of hot water, then solar water heaters might be the best bet. If the location is perfect and you can get your hands on a quality solar heater, it can be sufficient to provide you with hot water constantly. Storage tanks are needed, thought, and so are not the best idea if one doesn't get sun for several days every month.

It's possible to get other products that are more rare, such as heat pump water heaters, oil-water heaters, or heat recovery units. When buying a water heater, always consider the fuel type (and its availability and cost), size of the appliance, how energy-efficient it is, and what it costs.