If your water heater is not working and you are buying a new one, you will find different options available. Below are two options as well as tips on maintaining the water heater that you choose.

Tankless Water Heater

A tankless water heater is much smaller than a standard water heater. Even though it is compact, these water heaters are efficient. For example, a tankless water heater uses less electricity or gas to heat up the water. One benefit of a tankless water heater is you will save money on your water bill. This is because when you turn on a hot water faucet the water automatically heats up so you will not have to stand around and wait for cold water to get warm. One thing to consider with this though is it does not work well if you have a large family that uses a lot of water.

To maintain a tankless water heater, you should have it serviced at least one time per year. During the maintenance, the contractor will descale and remove lime from inside the water heater. This will also remove mineral buildup that may be on the heating elements. If you have hard water and/or you keep your water heater at a very high temperature, having it serviced twice a year would be best.

Storage Tank Water Heater

A storage tank water heater is the traditional type that is installed in many homes. The tank holds the water that is being heated. The amount of hot water that you have available to you depends on the size of the water heater tank. Consider the size of your family and how often heated water will be used when choosing the tank size.  A storage tank water heater has two valves. One valve controls the water temperature and one valve controls the water pressure. When water gets up to a certain temperature the temperature control valve automatically opens and releases heat until the water temperature is back to normal. The valve that controls the pressure will open when the pressure gets too high and then automatically close when the pressure is back to normal.

A storage tank water heater holds water on a continual basis. Because of this, the water heater tank should be cleaned at least two times per year. This will remove mineral scale and sediment built up inside of the tank. You can hire a professional to clean your tank for you.

You will find other types of water heaters on the market when you start shopping.

For more information on water heater installation, reach out to a local plumber.