Answering Commonly Asked Questions About Getting a New Hot Water Heater for Your Home

Your home's hot water heater is one of the most important appliances you can own; the power needed for heating water is often one  of the biggest utility costs you face, and trying to go without hot water because of a broken or malfunctioning heater can be very inconvenient! Note a few commonly asked questions about getting a new hot water heater for your home, so you know when to have a new one installed and how to have this done properly.

When should you get a new heater versus installing a new one?

The best thing you can do to answer this question is note the age of your current heater, versus the expected lifespan or warranty offered by the manufacturer. If the heater still has many years left on the warranty or expected lifespan, you might invest in repairing it. However, if the heater is a decade old or even older, as with a car that old, you might find yourself soon making repair after repair, and will be investing as much money in repairing an older heater as you would in having a new one installed.

Is a tankless heater the best choice?

A tankless hot water heater is one of the best choices for hot water, as it doesn't waste energy heating standing water in a tank. It also provides nearly unlimited hot water, as that water is heated over a coil as it runs through the tank and to a tap or faucet.

However, one drawback of a tankless heater is that it may not provide enough hot water to run several faucets and showerheads at once. If your family needs to use more than one shower in the morning, or you often run the dishwasher while showering at night, a tankless heater may not be the right choice for you.

What are the issues with installing a hot water heater yourself?

You may want to save money by installing your own hot water heater, but this isn't always the best choice. For one thing, you may void the warranty of the heater, and the warranty of any electrical or plumbing work you've recently had done in your home, by handling this work on your own. Also, if the work is done improperly, your home could experience electrical shorts or plumbing leaks, which could lead to damage to the new heater, the risk of electrical fires, or water damage to your home. Invest in the few dollars needed to get this work done right and call a contractor or plumber to install a new heater instead.

Share