The Five Types Of Hot Water Heaters

There are five types of hot water heaters. They include storage, demand, heat pump, indirect and solar. When you are looking for new hot water heaters, you should try to find a model that provides as much hot water as you will need efficiently.

Storage hot water heaters are the most common type of water heater in the U.S. They generally range in size from 20 to 80 gallons but can be found larger. Storage hot water heaters are fueled by electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil. Storage hot water heaters work by heating up water in an insulated tank. Even when storage hot water heaters are not in use, energy is being consumed.

Demand hot water heaters do not have a storage tank. They work by heating water directly when there is a call for hot water. These units are growing in popularity in the U.S. The energy consumption of demand hot water heaters is lower since standby losses from the storage tank are eliminated. Demand hot water heaters make the most sense in homes with natural gas, but the best of these have an electronic ignition instead of a pilot light.

Heat pump hot water heaters use electricity for moving heat from one place to another

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rather than for generating the heat directly. The heat source is the outside air or air in the place where the heat pump water heater is located. Refrigerant fluids and compressors are used to transfer heat into an insulated storage tank. Heat pump hot water heaters are available with built-in water tanks called integral units, or as add-ons to existing hot water tanks. A heat pump hot water heater uses up to one half as much electricity as storage hot water heaters.

Indirect hot water heaters use the home's boiler as the heat source and hot water from the boiler is circulated through a heat exchanger in a separate insulated tank. The hot water is stored in an insulated storage tank, so the boiler does not have to turn on and off as frequently, improving its fuel economy. Indirect hot water heaters, when used in combination with new, high-efficiency boilers, are usually the least expensive way to provide hot water. These systems can be purchased in an integrated form, incorporating the boiler and water heater with controls, or as separate parts.

Solar hot water heaters use energy from the sun to heat water. Solar hot water heaters are designed to serve as pre-heaters for conventional storage hot water heaters or demand hot water heaters. The initial cost of a solar water heater is high, but it can save a lot of money over the long term. Solar hot water heaters are much less common than they were during the 1970s and early 1980s. This is probably due to their support by tax credits. The solar hot water heaters available today are less expensive and more reliable than those older models.


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