Have you ever woken up in the morning to find that you’re having an uncomfortable cold shower because the water heater has broken down? If this sounds familiar, it may be that you need a new water heater installed. The good news is that there are a heap of different kinds of water heaters on the market from which to choose these days. We are no longer tied strictly to combi-systems or big old boilers that take up a lot of space. Of course, all of this choice creates something of a conundrum for most people when it comes to what kind of water heater to invest in.
Should You Buy Electric?
Water heaters have developed quite a bit in the past decade or so. With a lot of focus now being placed on energy efficiency and saving on power bills, most new water heating units are manufactured to tight standards and with money saving in mind. One of the newest kinds of water heaters is completely electric, as opposed to gas. So, if you’re intent on buying an electric water heating unit, what should you expect? Consider the following:
- Cost-Effective: One of the best things about the electric water heater is that the water is only heated up when necessary. This means that hot water isn’t sitting unused in the pipe when no one is having a shower or running the taps. The fact that water is not heated whilst not being used means that these kinds of units are actually more cost-effective in the long run and may cut down on power bills.
- Convenient: The electric water heating unit is always ready to go so anyone can have a shower, even multiples, at any time of day or night without having to worry about using all of the hot water in a tank. This is especially good news for large families or those with teenagers who might be having more than one shower in a single day.
Knowing When to Buy a New Water Heater
The truth is that every water heater has a maximum operating life. This is usually in the range of eight to ten years but it can vary. If you notice that your water heater is leaking and that water is pooling around the base, it’s time to call out the technician. Likewise, if you notice any rust in your hot water, this could be a sign that the tank is corroding and that debris has entered the pipes. In either case, it may well be time for a new water heater.
There may be many heating units on the market but once you know what you want, finding one to suit will be easy. One thing to bear in mind is how big you need the tank to be. The bigger the water tank, the more hot water it will store, unless you are buying one of the new electric models where there is no storage tank.
