Types of Hot Water Heaters

Your hot water heater is an important part of your home. When it fails, we quickly realize how much we have come to depend on hot water. Today homeowners have more choices than ever when it comes to choosing a hot water heater. There are several types of hot water heaters available:

Electric Hot Water Heaters

These are the most inexpensive units on the market and are a very common choice for homeowners. They are also very easy to install. They use electricity instead of gas to heat water, so venting is less of a concern (there are no noxious gasses that might escape into your home). However, the low cost of electric hot water heaters is offset by their lower energy efficiency. They cost more to operate over time. Your annual water heating bill will be the highest with this type of hot water heater.

Gas Hot Water Heaters

These are the most popular kind of hot water heater that homeowners choose to purchase. They use natural gas or propane to heat water. Advanced units have an automatic electronic ignition, so you never have to worry about a pilot light going out. They cost more than electric units and are a little more difficult to install. You have to make sure they are vented properly so noxious gasses don't escape and enter your home. They are more energy efficient than electric units so you'll save a little money on your utility bills each year. However, they are not the most energy efficient hot water heater type on the market.

Oil Hot Water Heaters

Less common today in residential applications, oil hot water heaters use oil instead of gas to heat your water. They are more common in northern climates where a system is dual use. Part of the unit feeds a radiator system that heats the home. The other part of the system provides hot water to the home. They can be very high in capacity and are often used in commercial applications. There are many sub types. Some use a boiler, others use heating coils.

Oil hot water heaters are very uncommon in homes in the Las Vegas valley.

Tankless Hot Water Heaters

Tankless systems can be gas or electric. Instead of using a storage tank to store hot water, tankless systems heat hot water on demand. This makes them very energy efficient. They aren't heating, reheating, and again reheating water in a storage tank. They are the most expensive to purchase and installation can be the most expensive as well. However, over time you save money on your utility bills and eventually a unit will pay for itself in the form of energy savings.

Electric systems are less efficient (although cheaper) and are only suitable for warm climates. Electric units can only raise the temperature of incoming water by at most, 60 degrees. This means incoming water must be at least 70 degrees if you want 130 degrees at the tap.

Gas units can heat water by more than 60 degrees. They are also even more energy efficient than electric units.

All Trades in Henderson, Nevada installs and services all types of hot water heaters. If it's time to replace your unit, but you're unsure of what type is best for you, contact us today and we will lay out all the important details for you. After a consultation with us you'll be better able to make an informed decision, a decision that is best for you and your circumstances. We service the entire Las Vegas valley and most of Clark County, Nevada.