Have you been seeing the signs of an aging water heater?
- Has your water picked up a slight tinge of color when it comes out of the faucet?
- Have you noticed dripping or puddling water around the base of your water heater?
- Is your water only lukewarm instead of hot? Is it running out before you’re done rinsing off?
If so, you need to know that your water heater is ready to conk out. It’s showing you that it’s on its last legs. This isn’t surprising since most traditional tank-style water heaters have a lifespan of eight to twelve years and more than 27 MILLION households have water heaters more than 10 years old.
Most water heaters are tucked away out of sight in a garage or a utility room. Because we put them in areas we may not visit or notice very often, water heaters can show signs of age that we don’t even see. Consequently, we are sometimes surprised when our water heaters die because we haven’t been paying attention to the signs.
Your home may be one of those in need of a water heater replacement.
Here’s what you need to know to pick the perfect new water heater for your family’s needs.
How many people will your new water heater be servicing?
Traditional tank-style water heaters come in different sizes. An average family of one to four people will need a minimum of a 40-gallon water heater, although 50-gallon water heaters are the most common and the most popular size.
The bigger your family, the larger your water heater will need to be. Five-person families need 46 to 56-gallon tanks. For every person over 5 people in a family, add an additional ten gallons per person. So if you have seven people in your family, take the 46 to 56 gallons needed for a five-person family and add twenty more for the two additional people. The capacity needed would be a 66 to 76-gallon water heater tank.
Americans use a lot of hot water. Running a load of laundry might take thirty gallons of water. A bath or shower can use twenty gallons. Doing a load of dishes in the dishwasher will require about 14 gallons of water.
We need lots of readily accessible hot water.
How much space do you have?
Tank-style water heaters are not small. They will stand five to six feet tall with a circumference of almost two feet around.
If you need to get a bigger water heater for your growing family, you’ll need to evaluate the space available for the new unit.
Limited space may be a reason to look at a tankless water heater.
How long do you intend to live in your home?
If you are choosing the perfect new water heater for your family’s needs and you intend to stay in your home for years, consider a tankless water heater.
Much smaller and more compact than the big tank water heaters, a tankless system lasts almost twice as long with lifespans of 18-20 years and longer.
They do cost more than the traditional style to purchase and install, but they also lower utility costs – regardless of whether you use gas or electricity to fuel them – and they have longer warranties.
If you are going to be in your home for a period of years, then you’ll be able to reap the rewards of a slightly bigger investment.
Understand the differences between standard tank water heaters and tankless systems
How they work:
In a traditional tank water heater, the unit is constantly heating water. Then it stores the water that it has heated. This is why the size of the water heater is important. The bigger the tank, the more hot water is stored.
One of the ratings on a new water heater is the FHR, the “First Hour Rating,” which tells you how many gallons of hot water it can deliver within an hour when it’s fully heated. (This is important if you’re the last family member to take a shower, you don’t want to run out of hot water!)
A tankless water heater works “on demand,” heating the water when you ask for it, producing 3-4 gallons of hot water per minute. With the early tankless water heating systems, you might have had to wait a minute or two for the water to heat, but with today’s new technology, the hot water you want is produced instantaneously. No waiting for it.
The size factor:
Tank water heaters are big. As I said before, they can be several feet in diameter and stand five to six feet tall. You must have significant space to install them. Not a bad thing, but the bigger the tank you need, the bigger area you need to put it in.
Tankless water heaters are much smaller units. They are flat, box-shaped equipment that is more compact than big, round tanks. A tankless system can be housed in a 24” x 14” x 10” unit and placed on an interior wall. They don’t take up floor space!
Cost differences:
Because the tank is constantly working to keep water hot and ready, it costs more in utility bills than a tankless system. A new traditional tank system costs less to purchase and install.
A tankless water heater costs more to purchase and install than a traditional tank style, but it saves money in utility costs because it’s only working when you need water. A tankless water heater will have a lifespan almost double of the traditional tank water heater, and it comes with longer warranties, reducing any repair costs in the long term.
The absolute best of both worlds: The Essency Water Heater EXR
We are so excited about a brand-new water heater that may be perfect for your family’s needs.
It’s called the Essency EXR.
It’s an electric tank water heater that performs like a tankless unit. Super-heated water is stored in an insulated interior tank. When you need hot water, domestic water is run through a heat exchanger, pulling the heat from the super-heated water in the core tank. You’re not using up your hot water; you’re heating new water when you need it using the heat stored in one single, 55-gallon tank of hot water.
- A 55-gallon heater that acts like an 80-gallon heater
- Best in class 80 gallons of hot water per hour.
- Delivers NINE back-to-back showers with hot water for everyone
- Connect it to a phone app to control and monitor your water needs
- No rust, build-up, or scale
- No harmful bacteria
- No unpleasant smell
- 20-year warranty that is transferrable if the home is sold
- LONG lifespan of 30 years!
Yep. That’s right. A water heater that lasts two decades more than a standard water while saving you utility bills and providing more hot water than you’ll ever need.
Whatever perfect new water heater you pick for your family’s needs, we can help
ServiceOne plumbers are trained, qualified professionals. We can help you estimate your family’s hot water needs, and then help you choose the perfect pick for your family, your lifestyle, and your budget.
Even better…
During October and November of 2022, we are offering $150 OFF on the installation of a new water heater.
Don’t wait until your old water heater quits, leaving you high and dry.
Check it for signs of aging and imminent problems.
Call us for an inspection.
Grab your discount while it lasts.