Making your water go from cold to hot in seconds flat is not that much of a luxury in our age and culture. Having water that gets hot instantly has become a necessity for us. This is why you can find water heaters in nearly every home.
Water heating naturally rarely occurs (unless you have a hot spring handy), so we use water heaters every single day. Water heaters have long been a necessity in every home.
Water heaters work by using an energy source (gas or electricity) to heat water in batches. Most homes have historically used tank-type water heaters, which look like a big cylinders you can probably find in your basement or a utility closet.
Here’s how it works: the tank is full of water. The energy source conducts heat, warming up the water in the tank. When you turn on your hot water at a faucet, the heater kicks on, making your water warm up. Once the water in the tank has been used, you will have to wait for it to fill back up for more hot water. That’s why you can’t take an endless hot shower.
These tank-type water heaters come in varying sizes. At Hope Plumbing, we install standard water heaters daily. The average size is 40-50 gallons, but they can go as high as 120 gallons. These can be gas or electric, depending on how your home is set up.
When choosing a water heater, it’s important to consider if switching styles will require electricity or if gas will need to be run to the new unit. Plumbers can install a new heater and are qualified to run gas lines to supply new appliances if necessary.
Tankless water heaters have been becoming more popular because they heat water instantly with copper heat exchangers, not storing any water in the unit. The main advantage of installing a tankless heater is that water gets hot instantly and doesn’t run out like in a tank-type heater. They can also be much more efficient and sustainable and have a significantly longer life… but they cost a significantly higher amount of money.
Hope Plumbing has many technicians that are qualified to help you make the best decision for your home. We can advise you on the best place in your home to keep your water heater and help you determine the best size and type for your home.
