The department of energy estimates that 30% of the average electric bill is used to heat water. With water temperature dictating so much of our utility costs, purchasing the appropriate water heater is essential.

Savvy consumers will analyze sizing, first hour rating (FHR is the amount of hot water a heater can supply per hour), fuel type and availability, energy efficiency, and cost when finding the optimal water heater for their residence or facility.

Water heaters can be powered by natural gas, liquid propane (LP), electricity, or solar. The aforementioned heaters come in either storage tank or tankless formats except solar which is only available as a storage tank. It is important to consider each option before making a purchase.

Tankless: Tankless or on-demand water heaters do not store hot water, but rather heat the water as it passes through a series of coils in the unit. This type of unit heats water on an as needed basis, and as such is inherently more energy efficient than a traditional storage tank water heater with EF’s that range from 80% to over 90%. A tankless unit can provide an unlimited amount of hot water, but volume may be limited. Most tankless units, while smaller in stature, can provide up to 3.5 gallons of heated water per minute and accordingly are better suited for buildings where demand is not needed at more than two sites simultaneously.

Storage Tank: Conventional storage tank heaters transfer heat from a burner or coil to the water which is housed in an insulated tank where it is stored until needed. The entire tank of water is heated to a specified temperature and consequently maintained at that temperature throughout the day. Accordingly, they are best suited for families that require large amounts of hot water in short periods of time. However, storage tank heaters will need to periodically reheat the water due to “standby losses” (which can represent 10-20% of a households annual water heating costs) caused by heat being conducted and radiated from the walls of the tank. Not surprisingly, storage tank heaters are more energy intensive with EF’s ranging from 54% to 63% as you pay to maintain hot water whether or not there is an immediate need.

Solar: While residing in the sunshine state isn’t a prerequisite to harnessing the sun’s energy for our heating needs, having such a resource at our fingertips is clearly a blessing. In addition to reducing our demand on foreign oil, solar customers reduce the global carbon footprint via a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. With energy prices expected to continue on an upward trajectory and the price of solar energy declining rapidly as its efficiency increases, we are quickly approaching an inflection point where solar is a financially competitive option. Although solar water heaters tend to have larger capital outlays at installation, the DOE estimates that water bills decline an average of 50%-80% following implementation. The DOE also estimates that savings of $13 to $20 per month are possible if you are refinancing or building a new home and include the system in your 30 year mortgage. Please contact Peninsular Plumbing to learn more about installing a solar water heater in your facility.

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Heat Pump Water Heaters: Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Therefore, a typical residential HPWH draws less than one-third the power of a standard electric resistance heater. HPWH’s can be purchased as a stand-alone system or as an integrated unit with built-in water storage tank and back-up resistance heating elements. Peninsular Plumbing company offers Air Generate’s Air Trap system that is easily retrofitted on any electric or gas conventional heater.

Timers: If you have a conventional storage tank electric water heater, an additional 5%–12% of energy can be saved by installing a timer that turns the heater off whenever hot water is not needed. Timers usually cost around $60; however, the investment is typically recouped in as little as 1 year.