17/09/2019
Come September, the ninth month of the year, marks the beginning of the end of summer. As autumn sets in, it’s that time of the year, when on some days, you feel the refreshing cold shower that you have been enjoying all along, is not so enjoyable any more. Maybe a tad warm water, you think, could be better; and you turn on the water heater for the first time in the season, and you find it’s quite comforting to the skin. For those, who do not have a water heater at home, its time you step out and purchase one, as weather here is extreme. It’s harsh and punishing.
Water heater, popularly called geysers also, is not a luxury. It is a basic necessity. They are responsible for heating water and consistently supplying hot water to showers, sinks, tubs, and appliances. They make our lives easy, comfortable and liveable.
Typical domestic uses of hot water include bathing, cleaning – washing dishes, clothes – and cooking. Water heaters at home can account for a substantial part of your utility bill each month if you are living in a colder place. Therefore, it is important that you choose the water heaters for your house carefully. While buying a water heater you have to consider two important factors – that it not just fulfils your family’s daily need of hot water but also reduces your energy bills significantly.
As selecting a water heater can be quite confusing, therefore, it is a good idea that you know the storage capacity of the water heater you need and the fuel type that would reduce your energy bills. Unless you have a large house, with many household members, you have to consider of an additional factor – water heater function. For this, it is important to know the types of water heaters available in the market and their uses.
Types of water heaters:
Conventional storage water heaters:
They are the most popular type of water heaters. Storage water heaters offer a ready reservoir of hot water, ready to be released when you turn on the tap. They are either electric powered that consume a lot of electricity or gas-powered which is economical. They need to be continuously heated and come with an electronic thermostat, which cuts off the power supply to the heating coils on attaining optimum temperature. Since it uses energy to keep the water hot even when it is not being used, it has a high standby heat loss and therefore, more expensive to maintain.
Instant water heaters:
Instant Electric Water Heaters: These are tankless heaters, also known as on-demand water heaters, does not require a storage tank. Tankless water heaters are catching on in the world as an alternative to storage tank models. By turning on the hot water it triggers an electric-powered heat exchanger that quickly heats the water. Instead of constantly heating water in a stored tank, tankless units only heat water as you need it. They are therefore more energy-efficient than conventional storage water heaters. On the downside, a tankless system can cost much more than a water heater with a tank.
Instant Gas Water Heaters: These tankless or on-demand water heaters run on gas – both on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). By turning on the hot water it triggers a gas-powered heat exchanger that quickly heats the water. They are even more energy-efficient than instant electric water heaters but are expensive to install.
Heat pump water heaters:
The heat pump is a water heater that transfers heat from air to water. It does so by capturing the energy from the ambient air to give it back to the heat pump’s water tank. Since it uses electricity to move heat from one place to another, instead of generating heat, the electric consumption is much lower, just one fourth compared to other water heating devices; and so is the operating cost. In other words, they are three or four times more efficient than electric water heaters.
What is the storage capacity of the water your family needs?
Where do you want your geyser to be installed? In kitchens, the requirement for hot water is minimal so a water heater with small capacity can suffice. While, overhead showers in bathrooms require a lot more water, and therefore, require geysers with much larger storage capacity.
If you reside in a place which has a colder climate, and the ambient temperatures are low, it would help to have a water heater with a larger capacity.
If you’re replacing a water heater in one of the bathrooms, do consider if your previous model consistently provided enough heat. If it didn’t, then you should upgrade to a larger size. Also, give it a thought whether or not you have plans to start a family or if your family size has the potential to grow over the next couple of years. If so, you’ll have to consider a larger heater as well.
If you are going for a conventional storage water heater below is a comprehensive table that will assist you to understand how much hot water you would require for your family size in warm or cold climates and the capacity of hot water heater you should ideally go for.
