Water heaters are the second in energy consumption in your home

This is the one of the Best and Important reasons which requires careful attention when buying Water Heater. So when you are buying a Brand New Water Heater or when you’re Replacing there are several points which need to be taken into account those are –

• Fuel Source for Water Heater (gas, electricity, solar, oil).
• Price, Cost and Operating or maintenance cost.
• Size or Weight (eg:- Tankless or Storage Tank).
• Quality of the Product (eg:- Durability).
• Top Brands when it comes to Water Heaters.
• Repair costs and parts availability.
• Features of it

   

  I will mention product details, product features, products details and much more to help you to make the correct decision in choosing the right and correct water heater for you.

The Reason for this article is there are many types of words and terminology used by U.S plumbers and even by the Water Heater Manufacturers which you will find very hard to understand the true meaning.

This page dedicated to people who don’t have enough knowledge on the water heaters and people who don’t know the key terms related to water heaters. So below I will mention both terminology and the meaning of it.  If you need to know meaning something which I didn’t mention here reply as a comment so I can help you to get.

Gas-fueled storage tank water heaters – These are conventional heaters which can heat up to 30 gallons to 50 gallons. These are usually heated by fire which is most often formed from Natural Gas or Propane Gas.

Electric-heated storage tank water heaters- These are same like above water heater but one major disadvantage is that this is powered by electricity not fire.

Gas-fueled tankless water heaters- Tankless Water Heater means the water in the unit is heated at the point of usage and a gas-fueled tankless heater means it fueled by some kind of gas.

Electric heated tankless water heaters- This is referred to the water heater which heats the water heater at the point-of-use and electrically fueled units.

Point-of-use electric water heaters- It is small-sized water heaters which are located in the place where water needs are essential. For Example- In remote powder, because this is far away from the main heating system. More frequently these types of water heaters come as electrically powered water heaters.

Heat-pump water heaters-  Heat pumps work like it absorbs heating pressure surround the water heater tank to heat the water inside the tank. Most pump water heaters are sourced by electricity.

Solar water heaters- Most solar powered water heaters are water circulating panels and they will place into a place where there is lot of sun exposure.  The water heated by the solar energy comes directly from the sun. (frequently used in small boats).

Portable water heaters- These water heaters are produced purely based on the portability and most often the water heaters are fueled by small propane gas tank these commonly used in vacations or in camping.

The Below ones are Terms related to water heaters

Relief Valve- This valve automatically opens when the water heater temperature rises very fast or when water levels are to great. Most often these Valves are placed in the top of the standing tank.

Drain Valve- This valve often appears like a typical outdoor water faucet using a handle valve opener. Most of them have a threaded spout that will receive a garden hose attachment and the drain valve is also usually located close to the bottom of tank hot water heaters.

Pilot Flame- Gas fueled water heaters don’t have a fire beneath the water tank always. The flame happens because the water drops in temperature and then goes off once the water reaches the setpoint temperature. In order to ignite the gas burner when it comes on, there is often a small gas-fueled flame that stays on constantly and is called the pilot flame.

Expansion Tank- this is a water tank placed near the entry line for cold water. The purpose of this tank is always to stabilize water pressure as outside water enters into the house. Any ups and downs in the water pressure coming from the outside water line are evened out.

Anode Rods- These are metal rods (usually magnesium rods) that extend into the inside of a tank water heater. The rods purpose is to attract minerals that are in the water and calcify these to the rod by means of corrosion. These rods remove minerals (and particularly excess calcium) from the water within the tank and thereby save the tank from being destroyed by sediments and scale.

Gas Burner- This is actually the gas-fueled fire unit at the bottom of gas-fueled tank water heaters. The gas burner really comes on and heats the water within the tank.

Electrical Heating Element-The heating element is a wire or rod that heats up when electricity runs through it. This element usually wraps around the water coils and allows the electrically generated heat to raise the hot and cold levels.

Dip Tube- Most tank water heaters are connected for the cold water piping of the home using a copper tube that come out from the surface of the tank. Which means that new water enters the water tank near the top. The heating element is at the bottom of the tank. So, to have the new cold water that’s entering the tank, as near to the heating element as possible, an internal tube (usually plastic) is connected to the incoming copper pipe inside the tank. This plastic dip tube takes the newly entering cold water on the bottom of the tank the location where the heating occurs.

Glass Lining- Most tank water heater have a glass lining that keeps the water in the tank.

Gas Flue Tube- The flue tube rises up within the tank from above the burner, in which the flue captures the combustion exhaust, and brings it to the top of the water heater where it can be mounted on an exhaust pipe that takes all te combustion exhaust to the chimney outside the house.

Thermostat– this is actually the sensor that monitors the water temperature in a tank water heater and turns on the burner when the water temperature drops and then turns off the burner once the water is restored towards the set temperature.

Best water heater guide terms

First Hour Rating- This peak demand number estimates how much hot water the water heater will deliver while in the first hour after you begin using warm water.

Recovery(at 90 degree rise in temperature)-  The amount of fuel in BTUs or electricity in Watts that is required to reheat the whole tank of water in a tank water heater in an hour. So the recovery is the heating of water by 90 degrees, and the amount of fuel it requires to accomplish that temperature rise.

Energy Factor- (EF) is a measurement of a water heater’s overall energy-efficiency. The greater the number the more efficient the water heater.

Self Cleaning- Because so much water passes through a tank water heater, sediments accumulate at the bottom of the tank. The sediments are minerals and calcium that settle out of the water. These sediments corrode the tank and its fittings, eventually ruining the water heater. A self-cleaning water heater usually swirls water as it enters in the bottoom of the tank because it leaves the dip tube. By swirling the water, sediments have to leave the tank with the hot water and not collect at the bottom of your tank. Also anode rods help clean the tank.

Heat Traps- Heat traps are fittings on the tank water heater at both the entryway of cold water as well as the exit point of hot water. These fittings are designed to prevent heat from escaping from the tank when the water is being stored.

Insulation R Value- A measurement of how well a water heater’s insulation maintains the water temperature in the tank.

FVIR Design- FVIR stands for “Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistance.” Water heaters are made to avoid gas vapors from building up and accidentally igniting. The style of gas water heaters is rated by the capability to minimize these coincidental fumes, and the state
designates successful designes as “FVIR Designed” in their best water heater guide.

Electric vs Gas Water Heaters

This one of the biggest question when it comes to water heaters because most of the people will have this question at the back of their mind. So I will try my maximum level to answer this question today.