How to Buy a Hot Water Heater

One of the most important things in your home is your water heater. If you don't know how to buy a hot water heater, you'll suffer from many problems at home. It's surprising, then, that most people have no idea how to buy a hot water heater.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to knowing how to buy a hot water heater, but with this guide you won't be left stranded when you need to buy one.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Understand your needs. To know how to buy a hot water heater, you'll first need to understand what you need. The most common statistic when it comes to buying a hot water heater is the capacity. Knowing how to buy a hot water heater means you'll also need to know how to determine how many gallons you and your family will need.

   With capacity measured in gallons on all standard hot water heaters, most people go by this guide: if your hot water needs are for two people, you need a tank with a capacity of 30-40 gallons; for three people you'll need a tank with a capacity of 40 gallons; for four people you'll need a capacity of 40-50 gallons; and for five or more people you'll need a tank with a capacity of 50-80 gallons.

2. Think about efficiency. How water heaters come at a higher cost than just your initial purchase price. Obviously you'll have to pay for the energy and water used by the heater, so before you get dragged into overpaying for something, check for the Energy Factor number.

   The higher the number, the more efficient the heater is, and the less you'll end up paying in energy costs.

3. First-hour rating. In addition to the efficiency rating, hot water heaters are also characterized by their first-hour rating. The Energy Guide label will tell you what this number is. What this number tells you is that during the first hour of use - a glorified way of telling you "at any given time" - the hot water heater can generate this much hot water.

   Just like the efficiency point above, you'll want to make sure the first-hour rating isn't way more than you'd ever need at any given time. If it produces too much hot water too quickly then you're just wasting energy - and thus wasting money. Remember, use what you need and aim to eliminate excess.

4. Consider alternate energy. This is one of the less talked about aspects of learning how to buy a hot water heater, but you should always consider using an alternative source of energy. The most economical choice at the moment is solar energy.

   It may sound futuristic, but with solar energy the future is now. All you need to do is put solar panels on the roof of your house, which will soak up the sun, and provide your house with power. The amount of energy is dependent on how much of an investment you're willing to make, but this can be used in coordination with your regular power source to lessen costs. In most states, your government will cover anywhere from a fourth of the installation cost to half of the solar installation cost.

   Hot water heaters work very well with solar power, so that is a more environmentally friendly way to go. Over the long run it'll be much cheaper than gas or oil.

5. Using these tips, you should be well on your way to finding a hot water heater that suits your needs. Consider the size of the hot water heater, the efficiency, how quickly it acts, and alternative energy sources.

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