Water heating options

Where you live, as well as the lifestyle you lead, the number of people in your home, and where you will install your hot water system, you will need to consider these realities if you are buying a new hot water system, or getting a backup system.

Having this basic information on hand will ensure you have hot water every day of the year, when you want it and in the amount you need, at the best possible cost. This will also help you decide if you should stick with the traditional hot water heating system you have used or go out of the box and try an alternative hot water heating system.

Here is a short list of the different water heating systems, available today.

electric hot water tank

This system uses heating elements that are located at the top and bottom of your tank. Since they don’t need ventilation, you can install or place them wherever you think is the best location. For example, in Canada, many R-2000 energy efficient homes have this water heating system.

Induced draft gas hot water tanks

This heating system has a fan that is located at the top of the tank. What the fan does is induce the movement of combustion gases so that they pass through a sealed plastic tube and then out the side wall of the house. You will find that many of these units use combustion and dilution air that is inside the house. However, due to the pressure of the flue gas extractor; You won’t have to worry about backdraft flue gas spillage. You will need to purchase a condensing furnace that will work well with this type of heating system.

Natural draft gas hot water storage tanks

These are budget units, coming with a naturally aspirated burner and extractor hood, which is connected to a vertical vent chimney. However, this particular kit is more prone to flue gas spills than the other models mentioned here, so you’ll need to make sure you have a furnace that works well with this kit. Another factor you’ll need to think about is whether you live in an energy-efficient home. These homes experience a higher degree of air tightness, so it is not recommended to install a unit of this type.

Gas hot water tanks with direct ventilation

As indicated, a direct vent or sealed combustion water transports combustion air from the outside, while venting flue gases through a single concentric pipe. Since there is no interconnection between the burner and the air in the house, they are resistant to spills and work very well in the most airtight houses.

tankless water heater

You could purchase an instantaneous water heater or tankless water heater, which as the name implies provides hot water, without the aid of a storage tank. You can choose a unit powered by gas or electricity. In tankless water heaters, warm water runs through a pipe to the unit, and then a gas burner or electric element heats the water.

solar units

Or you can try a solar powered heating water system. Solar heaters get their power from the sun’s energy and channel the heat into the water.

You can buy a reliable solar heater and use it as your main source of heating water. Or you can decide to use this unit as a backup system. If so, select a solar heater, which allows it to back up your gas or electric water heater.

Take some time to do your research on this system – find out the differences between different water heating systems, so you can save money, time and resources. Not only that, but the right water heater for your home will make a world of difference in whether you’ll have hot water when you need it, in the amount you want to use to produce the water heater.