What You Need to Know About the Different Types of Water Heaters

There are 5 different types of of water heaters, typically it's narrowed down to these main two for your home: tank water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Both of these types of water heaters can provide your home with the hot water you need. Below we will expound more on the 5 different types of water heaters that are found in house holds today,

Water Storage -

As their name implies, a tank water heater has a large tank which holds the heated water until you need it. This tank is insulated to help reduce heat loss, making it easier to keep this tank at your ideal temperature for longer. When you turn on the hot water in your home, water flows out of the tank and into your home, eventually reaching the tap which needs it. The tank then replaces the water you used with water from your supply, and then heats it to get it back up to temperature.

Conversely, tankless water heaters do not have a storage tank. Instead, they use a series of heating elements to heat the water as it flows through the heating unit, in a sense creating it on-demand as you need it. When you turn on a hot water tap, the heating elements in your tankless water heater turn on, heating the water quickly then feeding it immediately into your hot water lines for use elsewhere in your home. This makes it extremely easy for water to reach your ideal temperature and makes hot water delivery quick.

Tankless Water Heater -

Arguably the largest advantages of tankless water heaters is that they eliminate a number of the potential risk factors that a tank-style heater can carry. Because they don’t have a storage tank, they rarely leak and have much longer lifespans as a result. In fact, a well-cared-for tankless heater can last for decades, and even outlast the amount of time you own your home! Likewise, because there’s no risk for a pressure-related explosion, they’re far safer for your home and your family.

Tankless heaters are also far more efficient. Because they only use energy to heat the water you use once, you’ll see significantly reduced energy costs. No more paying for the energy to heat an entire tank of water and then paying more to keep it at your ideal temperature!

What are the downsides to a tankless system? The largest one is cost—tankless water heaters are quite a bit more expensive to install, so they’re a larger investment in your home. However, switching over to a tankless system could actually be a self-funding investment—because they last significantly longer than your traditional tank-style heater, their longer lifespan and reduced energy costs will save you a bundle, which means more money right back in your pocket!

Heat Pump Water Heater -

A heat pump water heater, or Hybrid water heater, is a style of water heater that uses the heat in the air and in the ground to create the hot water. Electricity is used to move the heat from the ground and air into the water, instead of normally electricity being used to heat the water itself. Heat pump water heaters can use up to 60% less electricity than normal storage tank units. But these models can sometimes require up to 8 feet of vertical clearance.

Similar to your typical storage tank water heater, heat pump water heaters need to be routinely cleaned at least twice per year to ensure you get the maximum lifespan from your unit.

Solar Powered Water Heater -

With a solar powered water heater, the sun is what is used to heat your water. If you already have solar panels, this is a very good unit to go with.
Of all the water heaters, this particular one is the most energy efficient as it is using solely the rays of the sun.

Condensing Water Heater -

With condensing water heaters, these primarily run off of natural gas. But, it's funneling heat in through an exhaust from the natural gas system and uses that to heat the water. This heated water is held in a storage tank, not unlike your normal storage tank water heaters. This model uses very little energy, because it's using the gas fumes that have been burned somewhere else, like your oven or heater.