3 Options For A High-Efficiency Water Heater Installation

Replacing an old appliance with a newer, higher-efficiency model is an excellent way to turn a necessary maintenance cost into an opportunity to reduce your energy usage and utility bills. Although high-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners often take center stage, you can upgrade your water heater, as well. This one change can potentially save you significant money over the long-term.

If you want to improve your home's overall energy efficiency, check out these three ways a water heater can help you achieve that goal.

1. Switch to a Heat Pump Unit

You've probably heard of heat pump HVAC units, but you might be surprised to learn that you can buy an electric water heater that works on a similar principle. Moving heat around is usually more efficient than directly heating a space, which is why air conditioners tend to be more efficient than furnaces. Heat pumps take advantage of this concept by using ambient heat to warm their water.

These units are pricey but also offer significant energy savings when compared to traditional water heaters. You're likely to see the best results if you live in a warm area, but hybrid heat pump units should be effective year-round, even in colder climates. If you want to maximize your energy efficiency (and the cost is no obstacle), then a heat pump may be an excellent option for you.

2. Install a Condensing Gas Heater

Heat pump units are highly efficient, but they may be out of reach for many budgets. High-efficiency condensing storage tank heaters are a more traditional alternative that can still offer significant gains. These models take a similar approach to high-efficiency furnaces. Instead of drastically altering their mode of operation, they utilize a more substantial proportion of their combustion heat.

For a typical water heater, the two primary inefficiency sources are standby loss from water sitting in the tank and heat lost to the exhaust stream. Condensing water heaters reduce exhaust stream loss using a secondary heat exchanger to extract more heat. This approach provides significant efficiency gains without requiring more time and effort to install.

3. Go Tankless

While condensing gas heaters aim to minimize waste heat loss, tankless water heaters eliminate standby losses. Tankless heaters provide on-demand hot water without the need for a storage tank, so they occupy less space and do not waste energy heating unused water. These units typically cost more to purchase and install, but their long-term operating costs are usually cheaper.

Whatever path you choose, installing a more efficient water heater is a great way to help the environment and save money. With new water heater technologies becoming available all the time, there's sure to be a high-efficiency option to fit your budget.

Contact a water heater installation contractor near you to learn more.