Considerations When Choosing a Water Heater

If your home’s water heater refuses to work consistently and water heater repair in Columbia, MO isn’t enough to fix it, it may be time for a replacement. However, it’s important to find a new unit that meets your home’s needs. Tanks that are too small won’t consistently provide hot water on demand. A heater that’s too big will cook unneeded water and run up bills.

When you need a heater replacement or installation, Brian Wear Plumbing, a plumber in Columbia, MO, is a dependable consultant and a reliable service provider. Here are some of the things you should consider:

Water Heater Types

There are several water heater design types to consider when choosing the right one for your home. The most commonly-used ones, however, are the tank and tankless versions.

The traditional water heater in Columbia, MO is the tank heater found in most homes. This design typically uses a cylindrical tank, a gas burner or electric heating elements, an exhaust flue and pressure relief to provide 40 to 60 gallons of uniformly-heated water at a time for cooking and cleaning.

Meanwhile, a tankless water heater in Columbia, MO only heats water at the time and point it’s needed. Tankless heaters are compact devices with no holding tank that install directly at sinks and spouts. They’re power-efficient because they don’t spend energy on maintaining reserves of heated water. They’re also more expensive but can last between five to ten years longer than tanks.

Standard Guidelines for Choosing

One of the primary considerations is the FHR, or first-hour rating. This measures the demand for hot water during busy times, like at the start of the day. FHR is based on the number of bedrooms per household. This represents the home’s occupancy. Add one and multiply by 12 gallons per person. Four people plus one by 12 equals an FHR of 60. This helps determine the type of water heater installation in Columbia, MO.

The source of fuel is also an important consideration. Heating sources can be oil, electric, natural gas, propane or even solar, which each have pros and cons. Natural gas, for example, heats water quickly but needs a vent or chimney. Propane is similar but requires onsite storage and deliveries. Electric doesn’t need a vent, but it takes more energy. Heating sources are also a consideration when matching them to the existing fuel availability in the home.

Efficiency rating, or EF, the recovery rating and the flow rating are also important and should be checked before choosing. A higher EF means a more efficiently-performing unit and lower bills. The recovery rate refers to the unit’s ability to heat water in an hour. The flow rate can also be impacted in tankless heaters where it depends on the temperature of the incoming water source before heating.

Contact a Local Water Heater Specialist

When choosing a water heater replacement in Columbia, MO, the best option is to have a knowledgeable professional who’s well versed in the parameters of today’s water heating options. Contact Brian Wear Plumbing today. We serve Columbia, MO, and the surrounding areas, including Ashland and Hallsville.