Water Heater Buying Guide

Water heating expenses consume nearly 20% of your household income, second only to what you spend on heating and cooling your Twin Cities home. Homeowners don’t usually give their water heaters a thought until they malfunction. Common water heater problems include abnormal noises, cold water, and water leaks. If your water heater is approaching the end of its life, you’ll need to search “plumbing and heating company near me” for a water heater installation estimate. At McQuillan Bros, we offer free estimates on our home services. The Water Heater Buying Guide below helps homeowners like yourself decide if a new water heater is right for them.

Which Hot Water Heater is Right for My Twin Cities Home?

Usually, households substitute their old water heater with one of the same sorts and operate on the same fuel—natural gas or electricity. Switching from a water heater to a tankless unit can be costly because it allows you to change your plumbing and probably your electrical grid. But if you build a new home or add an existing one, installing a tankless water heater can make economic sense.

Market Studies tested several full-service electric and gas water heaters from brands such as Bosch, Navien, Noritz, Rheem. The test used a high drawing pattern equal to the usage of 84 gallons of water per day. Payback time was slower for the tankless unit, which replaced the original storage tank, but was more realistic for the new construction. The average maintenance cost and projected installation expense were measured to determine the payback period on both new and repair installations. The findings were contrasted with those of traditional tank heaters, one gas, and one electric heater.

Most Common Types of Water Heaters

There are all kinds of water heaters available today. Whether you’re looking to repair or replace your water heater, it’s good to know which water heaters will save you money versus drive up your energy costs. The following are the most common types of water heaters we see in the Twin Cities, MN area.

Storage Tank Water Heater – Most homes over ten years old have storage tank water heaters. These types of water heaters are designed to heat and store water until it’s needed. Additionally, storage tanks water heaters tend to cost more.
Tankless Water Heater – Instead of storing water like traditional water heaters, the tankless water heaters heat the water as you need it. This saves you both water and electricity.
Heat Pump (Hybrid) Water Heater – Heat pumps are designed to capture heat from the air, which later heats the water. Those who have heat pumps will save more than 50% on energy than they would on a standard electric water heater tank.

Consider The Water Heater Capacity

The size of your tank water heater depends on the size of your household. Remember the first-hour rating, which is the number of gallons a water heater can produce in an hour. Tankless water heaters don’t carry a lot of water, so the amount to aim for is a gallon-per-minute value. The higher the GPM, the cooler the device will produce. If you have a large family and multiple bathrooms, you’ll need a higher GPM tankless water heater. Stillwater plumbers can measure what the FHR should be at your house to make sure it’s just the right size for your tank.

Water Heater Features to be Consider

Warranty:

Water heater coverage is usually three to 12 years. Although you’re usually paying a little extra for longer warranty versions, we’ve noticed that they appear to have bigger parts or burners that can speed up water heating and have thicker insulation for less heat loss. Appleton plumbers at Tureks Plumbing recommends choosing a water heater with the longest warranty.

Anti-Scaling Devices

Some brands sell features that are designed to reduce the build-up of the mineral scale at the bottom of the tank by stirring the bath. Although the scale will shorten the heating system’s life, you don’t need to invest in advanced features to get a water heater that lasts. Just look for one with a 12-year warranty that usually contains a longer or thicker part.

Digital Displays

Help you track your level and customize your activity. Some electric/heat-pump hybrid water heaters allow you to set a vacation mode that uses only a heat pump to maximize performance while you’re away. Solar water heaters also view tank and collector temperatures, as well as pressure readings and other data.

Professional Water Heater Services

At McQuillan Bros, we offer the best water heater service in Twin Cities and beyond. We’ve been proudly serving the homeowners and business owners of Minnesota since 1883. No matter what your needs are, our McQuillan team is happy to help. We offer free estimates on our heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical services. Contact us today to let us know how we can better serve you.