50 Gallons? Coming Right Up.
Norhio Plumbing encourages you to stop and think before you purchase a replacement water heater. You see, even if you’re set on a certain make, model, and storage capacity, we’re still going to ask questions to ensure you get what you really need and that you’re up on the latest in water heater technology. That kind of information may or may not cause you to change your mind – either way, you win.
Water Heater
Gas Tank-Style Water Heater
Like most things mechanical, gas tank-style water heaters continue to climb the energy efficiency ladder. In 2015 the pace quickened with the introduction of gas condensing water heaters. Gas condensing models offer energy efficiency levels as high as 95%, meaning almost no wasted energy.
High-efficiency gas condensing storage water heaters employ the same technology as standard gas storage water heaters: a glass-lined steel tank is heated by a burner located at the bottom of the tank. But a few basic changes make them operate more efficiently. Today’s models, for example, feature better insulation, heat traps, and more energy efficient burners.
Some high efficiency models use a secondary heat exchanger that extracts more heat from the combustion gas, cooling it to the point where there is condensation. These water heaters require venting through a vertical PVC pipe.
Electric Tank-Style Water Heater
If electric is your thing or there’s simply no natural gas where you live, you’ll be happy to know that electric water heaters have kept pace with gas water heating technology in terms of energy efficiency.
In addition to standard electric models, there’s a new option in town: hybrid electric heat pump water heaters. These derive the energy they need to heat your water from the air around the storage tank. If that air is too cold to get the job done, the unit’s electric heating function is engaged.
How does a hybrid water heater work? Let’s compare it to a refrigerator, which removes heat from an enclosed space and sends it out into the surrounding air. A hybrid water heater does the opposite, extracting heat from the surrounding air and transferring it to an enclosed space.
Water Heater Sizes
Here are two more things you should know about the state of today’s gas and electric water heaters:
- All water heaters with at least a 55-gallon storage capacity are available in gas condensing models only
- All electric water heaters of 55 gallons and more are available in electric hybrid heat pump models only.
These distinctions are important since gas condensing and electric hybrid water heaters take up more space than the systems they replaced, and therefore more space is required to house them.
Come to think of it, there’s a lot that goes into choosing just the right water heater for your home. So team up with Norhio Plumbing today and feel good about all your plumbing choices – a new water heater included.
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