If you live in an older home and/or have lived in your home for many years, you may be considering replacing your hot water heater with a newer, more efficient model. It is a good idea to replace old hot water heaters when they stop functioning efficiently, but there are a few things that you should consider before purchasing a new unit.

Here are the three main things that you need to consider before purchasing your new hot water heater:

Fuel Type

Choosing a new hot water heater no longer means simply deciding between electric and gas. Water heater fuel options now include propane, hybrid, and solar power in addition to your good old-fashioned electric and natural gas. Each power option has its advantages and disadvantages, and you will need to consider each of them before picking the type that best suits you and your home. For instance, solar powered water heaters are more expensive up front, but cost less to maintain throughout the year. Our specialists can help explain these options to you and can help you pick the best option for your home.

Dimensions

Another important thing to consider when researching water heaters is the space that you have for your new unit. It may sound exciting to purchase a larger capacity water heater, but you may not be able to – the space you have may not accommodate a larger model. Also, keep in mind that different brands may have different dimensions even if they hold the same amount of water. Some hot water heaters, for example, are tall and thin while other are short and squat; even if both types hold 50 gallons, your space will most likely only have the dimensions for one or the other. Carefully measure the area where you’ll be installing your new water heater in order to make sure that whatever model you are looking at fits into the space you have.

Capacity

Most homeowners purchase a home with a hot water heater already installed and may not even know what size theirs is. Check this before you go looking for a new one – you may not want to upgrade, but you definitely don’t want to get anything smaller. It can be tricky to decide what size is best for your home, as you do not want to overspend and buy a high capacity water heater that you do not need. You will need to consider, however, the size of your home, the number of people who live there, and resale value. Generally, a 50-75 gallon water heater, which is large enough for a family of 4-5 people, is a good size to purchase if your household has up to 5 people in it. That size is also a good size when considering your home’s resale value, as it’s considered standard size.

Choosing a new hot water heater for your home can seem overwhelming at first, but considering these three things should help you a great deal in making a good decision.

Contact us if you have further concerns about what water heater you should purchase for your home – we’re here to help you purchase and install the water heater that will best suit your needs.

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