Hot Water Heaters

Storage water heaters are by far the most common. These storage tanks are insulated and usually range in size from 20 to 80 gallons (or larger) and fueled by electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil. Storage water heaters work by heating water in an insulated tank. New energy-efficient storage water heaters contain higher levels of insulation around the tank to reduce heat loss

Tankless water heater is a wall-mounted unit that only comes on to heat the water. They work beautifully and are made of stainless steel, so they last. They provide an endless supply of hot water, but it makes a limited amount per minute, so two major uses of hot water will limit the amount to be used. The greater the temperature rise, the lower the flow rate. They are available in gas or electric

Indirect water heaters generally use the home’s boiler as the heat source, circulating water from the boiler through a heat exchanger in a separate insulated tank. Since hot water is stored in an insulated storage tank, the boiler does not have to turn on and off as frequently, improving its fuel economy. Electronic controls determine when water in the tank falls below a preset temperature and trigger the boiler to heat the water as long as needed.

Rebates are usually offered by your utility. Offers can be found at energystar.gov