So you’re looking into a brand new water heater, and now you have some choices to make. What type of water heater is going to offer the best performance for the best price with the best energy efficiency?
Your decision will come down to one determining factor: how your water heater stores (or doesn’t store) hot water.
There are three types of water heater storage to consider:
- Conventional water heaters have a 40 to an 80-gallon storage tank for keeping water at a constant temperature – when you open a hot water faucet in your home, this water is immediately pumped to that location.
- Tankless water heaters do not store water. Instead, they heat water on-demand in a series of coils, so you only spend energy heating water when you need
- Hybrid water heaters combine both storage types into a single unit: the appliance keeps a small tank of water heated constantly for immediate use, but also heats water on demand to save energy.
The storage type of your water heater is the biggest factor to consider when replacing or upgrading your appliance. To be sure you get the type best suited for your home, follow this handy list of comparisons, straight from your local plumbing professionals!
Compare and Contrast Each Water Heater Storage System
Each of the water heater storage types has a distinct list of pros and cons. To help you keep all of the information straight, we’ve arranged this list of which water heater systems belong in which types of houses.
- Large Household, 4+ Members – If your family is taking more than 4 combined showers in a single day, you’re going to want to go with a conventional water heater. Make sure your plumber
- Small Household, 1-2 Members – The compact size and high efficiency of tankless water heating make it perfect for a smaller home with two occupants who aren’t home all day long. On-demand water heating means you use less energy, and you don’t have to worry about heating water you’ll never use. Tankless water heaters are easy to install and fit just about anywhere! And they last longer, too, making them easier on your wallet.
- Mid-size Home, 3-4 Members – Hybrid water heaters combine the energy efficiency of the tankless with the convenience of the tank type – the 1 to 2 gallons of heated water is always there when you need it, and the on-demand water has you covered all day long.
Want to learn more about water heater storage and the difference it makes? A local plumber can help you with an in-home estimate. Call 3 Mountains Home Services today to determine if a tankless water heater in Portland is right for you!
