When it comes to home appliances, few are as essential—and taken for granted—as the water heater. We expect hot water on demand and usually don’t give a second thought to the hard-working appliance chugging away in the background. That is until it breaks down. Then, we’re all too aware of just how important a properly functioning water heater is!
If you’re in the market for a new water heater, you might wonder which type is best for your home. Several different types of water heaters are available on the market, each with its own collection of pros and cons. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the most popular types of water heaters to help you make an educated decision about which one is right for your home.
Gas Water Heaters
Gas water heaters use natural gas to heat water and are typically less expensive to operate than electric models. Gas models also tend to have a quicker recovery time (meaning they can heat large batches of water more quickly). One downside of gas models is that they require proper ventilation, so they can’t be installed anywhere in your home. If you’re considering a gas model, consult a qualified HVAC professional to ensure your home can accommodate one.
Best Gas Water Heaters
- Rinnai High-Efficiency 6.5-GPM Tankless Water Heater: This Rinnai model is one of the market’s most popular tankless water heaters. It has a high-efficiency rating and can provide up to 6.5 gallons of hot water per minute.
- AO Smith Signature 40-Gallon Water Heater: This AO Smith model is a traditional storage-tank water heater. It has a capacity of 40 gallons and features an adjustable thermostat to help you find the perfect temperature for your home.
Electric Water Heaters
Electric water heaters use electricity to heat water. One advantage of electric models is that they can be installed anywhere in your home since they don’t require special ventilation as gas models. Electric models are also typically less expensive to purchase than gas models. However, they can be more expensive to operate since electricity is typically more expensive than natural gas. Electric models also have longer recovery times than gas models (meaning it takes longer to heat up large batches of water).
Best Electric Water Heaters
- Rheem Performance 40 Gallon Electric Tank Water Heater: This Rheem model is a traditional storage-tank water heater. It has a capacity of 40 gallons and features an adjustable thermostat to help you find the perfect temperature for your home.
- A.O. Smith EG12 50 Gallon Electric Water Heater: This A.O. Smith model is a traditional storage-tank water heater. It has a capacity of 50 gallons and features an adjustable thermostat to help you find the perfect temperature for your home. This water heater also has an energy smart mode that can save you money on your energy bill.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless or “on-demand” water heaters don’t store hot water like traditional tank-style heaters do; instead, they only heat water when you need it. This makes them much more energy-efficient than traditional tank-style heaters since there’s no wasted energy keeping a full tank of hot water heated at all times. Tankless water heaters are available in gas and electric models (although gas tends to be more common). They’re also more expensive than traditional tank-style heaters, but many homeowners feel the increased efficiency is worth the extra cost.
Best Tankless Water Heaters
- Ecosmart Eco 27 Electric Tankless: This Ecosmart model is an electric tankless water heater. It’s one of the market’s most popular tankless water heaters and can provide up to 7 gallons of hot water per minute.
- Stiebel Eltron Tempra Tankless: This Stiebel Eltron model is a gas tankless water heater. It has a highly efficient heat exchanger that can provide up to 9 gallons of hot water per minute.
The Bottom Line
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when choosing the best type of water heater for your home; the decision depends on many factors, including energy source availability and cost, desired features, and more. However, we hope this overview has given you some information to help you narrow your choices and choose the best water heater for your needs.
