‘Water heaters’ or boilers are an important part of our lives, as they provide an instant source of hot water in many homes and apartment buildings. Due to their frequent use and central role in the daily activities of individuals everywhere, it is important that everyone possesses at least a rudimentary understanding of what different types of water heaters exist; how each unit functions; which type will best suit your needs; and what specific things you should take into consideration when purchasing one for yourself or your family.
Emergency plumber Sydney owner Justin Rizk explains that a boiler is simply a device that heats up the water using electricity or natural gas to create steam. Hydronic boilers use electricity or gas to pump hot pressurized liquid through baseboards which then creates warmth throughout the room. If you already forced-hot air throughout your home with a furnace, adding a boiler can be an efficient way to heat your water as well.
The following list of water heaters should help you make an educated decision on what appliance to buy for your home.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters are growing in popularity because they offer energy efficiency and convenience. These units do not store water, instead, they heat up the water on demand. While this method uses less energy than traditional storage tank models, the main downside is that there may be a delay when it comes to having hot water after flushing a toilet or running a washing machine.
On-Demand Water Heater
Also known as Point of Use or POU, these units are much smaller than standard tank-type models and only produce enough hot water to meet demand in one place at a time. This unit can be a great choice if you have limited space for your hot water heater and do not need the room savings of an all-inclusive unit. On-demand technologies deliver 3 to 5 gallons per minute (GPM) onto faucets and showerheads.
Tankless Coil Water Heaters
A tankless coil water heater is a variation of the traditional tank-type model. Rather than heating water in a tank, these units use an electric coil that heats the water as it passes through. This type of water heater is ideal for homes with limited space, and they are also more affordable than other tankless models.
Storage Tank Water Heaters
Storage tank water heaters are the most common type of electric water heater. These units come in a variety of sizes and can be either gas or electric-powered. The main advantage of this type of heater is that it stores hot water, which means you will not have to for the unit to reheat between uses.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
A heat pump water heater uses electricity to move heat from one place to another, rather than generating heat directly. These units are more expensive than traditional storage tank or tankless models, but they offer high efficiency and can be a great choice for homes that use a lot of hot water.
Solar-Powered Water Heaters
Solar-powered water heaters rely on the energy of the sun to heat the water supply in your living space. While these units are more expensive to install, they offer significant long-term savings on your energy bill. In addition, solar-powered water heaters are environmentally friendly and help reduce your carbon footprint.
Induction Water Heaters
Induction water heaters use an electric current to heat the water rather than a burning element. Most induction units are faster and more efficient than traditional storage tank models, making them a great choice if you use a lot of hot water in your home.
Combination Water Heaters
Combination water heaters provide both instant and stored hot water in one convenient unit. These models combine an electric-powered tankless coil with either storage or on-demand technologies; they release the hottest water out of all types of electric water heaters.
Vented Tankless Coil Water Heaters
A vented tankless coil model combines elements from the traditional tank and tankless models in order to offer convenience and efficiency at an affordable price. A vented coil heater is similar to an on-demand heater, but it also has a tank that allows the unit to store hot water.