Water heaters are units that used for heating and storing water. In your home, water heaters are used to heat water for your entire household. It controls water temperature of your showers and baths, bathroom faucets, kitchen faucets, dishwasher, washer and dryer, etc.
According to tankless water heater reviews, this appliance can come in a number of different forms (tank, tankless, electric, gas, etc.). Today you will learn the importance of water heaters in your home, including proper location, space requirements, home organization, and more. Let us get started.
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Tanked OrTankless Water Heaters For Your Home
There are many things to consider when making your water heater purchase including the type of water heaters. There are 2 main types of water heaters: traditional tanked water heaters and tankless water heaters.
Tanked water heaters may be what you are most familiar with since the tankless form is a newer contender on the market. Tanked water heaters store and dispense water while tankless water heaters are just responsible for water dispensing.
Tankless water heaters are an evolved form of the traditional tank water heater. Tankless water heaters work by heating water without the use of a storage tank.
Tankless water heaters have advantages and disadvantages:
Pros
- Energy efficiency
- Money-saving, around $100 per year
- Longer life expectancy (20+ years)
- Lower operating costs
- Smaller size
Cons
- Higher up front cost
How Big of a Water Heater Do I Need?
In addition to the advantages and disadvantages shown above, you will want to consider how big of a water heater your home will need. You may ask yourself that how big water heater do i need? Determining factors will be your family size and utilities. Use this simple guide to determine your water heater size needs:
- Family size 1-2: 30-gallon heater
- Family size 2-3: 40-gallon heater
- Family size 3-4: 40-50-gallon heater
- Family size 5 or more: 50-80-gallon heater
Looking at the fuel source is also an important factor: gas or electric.
Where to Locate Your Water Heater
Most water heaters are located in the home’s garage, basement, or attic. Water heaters (not including tankless) can take up a lot of space. These areas are usually the best place to store your heater to best accommodate the size.
Some homes require 2 water heaters. In this instance, each heater is usually placed (standalone) in one space in the home. For example, 1 heater in the basement and 1 heater in the garage.
A tankless water heater is much smaller than a traditional water heater. They are usually installed in these locations:
- Under sinks
- In bathrooms
- In closets
- In pantries
- Under the stairs
Tankless water heaters small and can be mounted just about anywhere. Some can even be mounted outdoors, though not all. Take care when selecting your installation destination and keep in mind that some units do not recommend outdoor install.
When selecting your location, the heater should not be installed in areas that may be subject to freezing, in direct sunlight, rain, excessive humidity or moisture, and excessive dust.
Here are some additional installation location tips for the tankless water heaters:
- Location close to hot water sources (faucets, etc.)
- Location that does not require major plumbing changes
- Location that is easy to access
- Location not near combustible components
Generally, a tankless heater can be installed in the same location as a tanked water heater so if you are upgrading your hot water heater, a safe bet in most cases is to just install your tankless heater in the location of the old water heater.
Tankless Water Heater is Better For Your Home Space
Despite the higher up front cost, most consumers prefer tankless water heaters for several reasons including: cost savings, energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and less space needed for location and installation.
When selecting your tankless water heater, consider the following factor:
- Cost
- Energy efficiency
- Fuel source
- Household size
- Installation costs
Final Thoughts
The installation of your home’s water heater is an important decision. There are many factors to consider and among the most important is the water heater’s location. Use the tips above to aid in your buying decision. Remember to consider the following important factors:
- Tanked vs. tankless water heater
- The right water heater for your household size
- Best location for your heater (installation)
Remember that many water heaters (tanked or tankless) contain helpful guides which will contain information on recommend installation point, household size, and best use.