Water heating system is essential for your house. It accounts for about eighteen percent of your home’s energy. You can reduce your monthly bill by a great amount by reducing your hot water use and choosing the right type and size of water heater. Waterdrop has instant hot water dispenser, check here to learn more about Waterdrop filters.
In this article, you will get to know about everything related to water heating. From choosing the right water heater to choosing the right size and also different types of water heaters, you will find everything in this article. Let’s get you on with it!
Selecting the right restaurant water heater:
Always opt for a water heater which provides you hot water whenever you need it, uses energy efficiently, saves up money and lowers your monthly bills. When choosing a water heater, always choose the right size and fuel source for your home
The fuel source that you will choose will not only affect the water heating cost but also its size and energy as well. There are several fuel sources such as electricity, fuel oil, geothermal energy, natural gas and propane. If you have more than one fuel type available in your area, then consider yourself lucky, even more so if you are building a new home. Reason? Because you will be able to save more money in the long run if you use different types of fuel sources.
You should make sure that you buy the one which is according to your house size because then, it will help you in having enough hot water for everyone to take a comfortable shower and also to provide maximum energy.
Make sure to check the energy efficiency of the water heater you are going to buy so that it gives you maximum energy and reduces your monthly bills as well. Whenever you plan on buying a water heater, make sure to compare its annual, competition and maintenance. Compare those costs with less energy or more energy efficient models. Then you will get to know which one is perfect for your house.
The type of water heater you select will also tell you how much cost you are going to save.
Types of water heaters:
There are various water heaters:
- Conventional storage water heater – comes with a storage tank
- Tank less – no need of storage tank
- Heat pump water heaters – generates heat directly to provide hot water
- Solar water heaters – uses the sun’s energy and heat to provide you hot water
- Tank less coil and indirect water heaters – use’s home space to provide hot water
Choosing the right size:
If you choose the right type of water heater, then it will work more efficiently and fulfill your water needs on a daily basis. In this section, you will get to know about how to size tank less, solar heating and heat pump water heaters. Before choosing the right size, make sure that you first consult a qualified contractor. That way, he will tell you which size would be perfect for your house.
Tank less water heaters:
Tank less water heaters are rated the highest in providing the maximum temperature rise at a given flow rate. So to size a perfect water heater, you need to first analyze the flow rate and temperature rise as well.
The process of finding the flow rate and temperature rate is quite easy. List the number of hot water taps or devices you are going to us. Add up their flow rates then. This will be the desired flow rate you want. For instance, if one of the taps or device provides you water at two liters per minute and the other one provides you water at eight liters per minute, then you need at least twelve liters of water flow per minute.
Determining temperature rise is also very easy. Just subtract the temperature of incoming water from the output temperature and there you have, your temperature rise!
Solar water heaters:
To determine a perfect size of solar water heater, all you need to do is add the total collector area and the storage volume you will be needing to meet hundred percent of your water needs during the summer season. This process is now more easy because the contractors use computer programs to determine different requirements and collector sizing.
Collector area can easily be calculated. Two square meter is required for the two family members. Add eight square meters for any additional person living in the house. If you talk about the storage tank, fifty to sixty gallon is enough for two or three people. However, if there are more than three people, then you might need a large storage tank.
Additional calculations regarding your solar water heating system includes estimating your buildings solar site resource and determining the direction where the solar panel is going to tilt.
Heat pump water heaters:
If you want to determine the perfect size of a heat pump water heater for your home, then you just need to determine the water heater’s first hour rating. The first hour rating will tell you about the number of gallons of hot water the heater can provide you in an hour. Other factors include the tank size, source of heat and the size of the burner.
If you wish to estimate your peak hour demand, determine at which time of the day, hot water is used the most, and don’t forget to count the people living in your home. There is also a worksheet given on the internet where you can calculate an estimate of your maximum usage of hot water during an hour of the day.
Heat pump water heaters – selection, maintenance and improving energy:
Mostly people who have heat pumps use it to heat or cool down the temperature but this can also act as a water heater. This can act as a stand along water heater or both, providing hot water and space conditioning system as well.
Selection:
As compared to conventional storage water heaters, heat pump water heaters have a higher initial costs, but, heat pump water heaters have lower operating cost which can cancel out their higher purchase and the installation price. You need to consider a few things before buying a heat pump water heater. You need to consider the size, first hour rating, fuel type, availability, energy efficiency and the overall cost. If you keep these things in mind, you’re good to go.
Maintenance and installation:
Heat pump water heaters require proper installation, maintenance and a good warranty. If you maintain your heat pump water heater, it will improve its efficiency. Proper installation depends on many things and each of these things is important. These factors include fuel type, climate, safety precautions and issues, and building requirements. It’s better that you hire a professional and qualified plumber and a heating contractor to install your heat pump water heater.
Keep somethings in mind while selecting a professional plumber. These things are written cost estimate, references and company background. Water heater maintenance will improve the life of your water heater and maximize the energy efficiency.
Maximizing energy efficiency:
After the heat pump water heater is installed properly, try different energy saving strategies. These strategies will help lower your monthly bill. Some of the energy saving devices are more cost effective if you install them while installing the heat pump water heater.
Storage water heaters:
Storage water heaters are one of the most popular water heaters which are almost available in all homes and private properties. You will get to know about how to select the right storage water heater, process of installation and maintenance and how to improve its energy efficiency.
Selection:
If you are thinking of buying a low priced storage water heater, then don’t. Reason? Because they are the most expensive ones to operate and maintain in the long run. On the other hand, an oversized unit might look expensive to you but it will have increased energy cost due to higher energy losses.
Make sure to keep factors such as size, first hour rating, fuel type, availability, energy efficiency and costs in your mind before buying a storage water heater.
Installation and maintenance:
Proper installation and maintenance of your storage water heater does not only increase its life but also optimizes its energy efficiency as well. Proper installation requires many things such as fuel type, storage, climate, building requirements and other factors. There are also concerns of safety due to the combustion of gas and oil fired water heaters. Make sure that whenever you feel like buying and installing a storage water heater, install it with the help of a heating contractor so that everything is done safely.
Make sure to gather all the necessary details from your heating contractor. If you still insist on installing it yourself, then consult the manufacturer first. They have the instructions and installation manuals which will help you in installing it yourself safely. Make sure that you have a permit first and know the details such as local building codes of water heaters.
Water maintenance can not only increase the storage water heater’s life but can also increase the efficiency. Maintenance is done according to the size and storage of the storage water heater. Make sure that you keep these maintenance factors such as changing the storage water after every three months, checking the temperature and pressure valves every six months and analyzing the anode rod after every three or four years.
Improving energy efficiency:
After the storage water heater is installed, try some different energy saving strategies. These strategies will help you in lowering down your monthly bills.
Reduce hot water use for saving more energy:
You can reduce your monthly bills and save energy by applying these simple techniques.
Fix leaks:
Whenever and wherever you see a leakage, instantly call the plumber and get it fixed. A leak of one drop per second can waste about sixteen hundred gallons of water which can cost you up to thirty-five dollars extra annually.
Installing low-flow fixtures:
Due to the new law, now, you cannot exceed the water flow more than two gallons per minute. Instead, you can purchase some quality and low-flow fixtures which will cost you roughly about ten to twenty dollars for a single piece and you can end up saving twenty-five to sixty percent of water.
Shower heads:
Always buy a shower head which does not exceed more than two gallons. There are two types of shower heads available in the market which can help you in this case, aerating and laminar flow shower heads. Aerating shower heads mix water with air causing a misty sort of spray. Laminar flow causes less steam and moisture. If you live in a humid place, then laminar flow shower heads will suit you best.
In the 90’s, the slow rate of shower heads used to be five gallons per minute. If you are using a shower head which is that old, then you need to replace it with a new one. There are some simple techniques you can apply to see if you need to change your shower heads or not. First of all, place a bucket under your shower, mark the inner side of the bucket with gallons and turn the shower on at a normal water pressure that you use mostly. Note the time taken to fill the bucket till the one- gallon mark. If it takes less than twenty seconds to reach the one-gallon mark, then you need to change the shower head with a low flow shower head.
Hope this information was enough for you to understand everything related to water heating and water heaters. Make sure that you select the water heater which is perfect for your family size and your home. Take time to make a decision about which water heater will best suit you. Also, make sure that you follow all the guideline listed in this article such as getting information regarding your local plumber, how to install it and how to maintain it!