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To get the most out of your investment when buying a water heater, don’t assume that you can install the same type of system that you currently have. Consider multiple factors like sizing and efficiency to maximize return on investment, and ensure an adequate supply of hot water.

These are the major factors to consider when buying a water heater:

  • Know the size of water heater you need. To calculate size, work with your contractor to match the peak demand for hot water in your home with a water heater’s first-hour rating, or maximum amount of hot water a unit can deliver during peak demand. Then, you can select the right capacity, typically between 40 and 80 gallons depending on need.
  • Choose Energy Star-qualified equipment. These units exceed the government minimum standards for water heaters, which means your monthly water-heating bills will be lower if you choose an Energy Star-qualified system over a non-rated one.
  • Select an Energy Factor (EF) rating that meets your budget. Gas water heaters generally score lower on the EF scale, ranging between 0.5 and 0.7 for standard units, while electric units range higher, typically between 0.75 and 0.95. However, it’s important to consider the cost of fuel too, as higher electricity prices generally nullify savings from higher EF ratings.
  • Choose the best type of system. Storage water heaters have been the standard for decades, but today it’s also possible to purchase solar water heaters, heat pump water heaters and tankless systems, all of which can lower energy costs for water heating.
  • Evaluate installation and labor costs too. In general, the costs to replace a unit under duress will be more, as will adjusting the installation location of the unit. If you want to relocate the water heater, and it’s farther away from the main water supply, installation costs will go up.

Once you take these five factors into consideration, you can confidently choose a new water heater to suit your budget and your needs—and lock in long-term savings.

For help upgrading your water heater, contact Aladdin Heating & Cooling today. We’ve served Lake Orion, St. Clair Shores, Ferndale and Berkley since 1945.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about Buying A Water Heater and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston.

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