To help you select the best energy efficient hot water heater for you and
your home, we’ve listed the four different types below.
Electric water heaters:
Electric tankless water heaters are energy efficient, reliable, and require
little space. Most individuals who have either a solar or a stove water heating
system use the tankless water heater as a backup unit. However, electric
tankless water heaters have provided hot water for entire homes all over the
world. Since World War II, they have been very popular in Europe, Japan, and
becoming increasingly popular in Canada and the United States in the past fifty
years. Electric hot water heaters do not require vents. Therefore, you can
install them nearly anywhere. Because they don't need vents, you can install or
put them wherever you feel is the best location
Solar water heaters:
Solar water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat the water. Therefore, their
efficiency greatly depends on the amount of sunlight they receive. If you live
in an area where you receive strong, intense sunlight for the majority of the
time, then solar water heaters may be right for you. However, if you live in an
area where the climate is mostly cloudy and the temperatures cool then you may
need to consider another type of hot water heater. Solar water heaters can be
used as a good auxiliary system and can also be used to help heat the water in
your pool. However, they are not cheap.
Stove powered hot water:
This is possibly the oldest method of heating hot water. Generations ago, most
of our great-grandparents heated water in iron or clay pots for bathing, cooking
and cleaning. However, today the process has been simplified with water jackets
built into stoves. My aunt and uncle use a wood-burning stove, which stays lit
often for cooking. Their system provides them with sufficient amounts of hot
water.
Gas water heater:
Gas water heaters tend to heat your home as well as your water. They do require
proper ventilation however. Gas water heaters also have a tendency to heat water
more quickly and more efficiently than electric water heaters.
Before making your final decision on which water heater to purchase, do your
research first. Compare the volume of hot water each system provides to the
number of people living in your home. You also have to take into consideration
your life style and the area you live. All of these factors will help you make
the best decision as to which water-heating system is right for you. |
