Selecting the Best Water Heaters

How to find the best rated model for water heating

• AO Smith

• Rheem

• Bradford White

What to look for when searching for the best water heaters

• Decide about the fuel type. Electric and gas water heaters will have different initial cost, installation cost, operational cost and based on the type, the size and energy efficiency will be different. Keep in mind that water heating is the second highest energy user after home heating, so keeping your costs low is one of the priorities.

• Either buying tankless or storage tank type selecting the best water heaters depend on many factors and your preference.
  
  The tankless WH has higher initial cost, but they are smaller, usually wall-hang, provide hot water on demand and as much as you need it, where one large unit can supply up to 3-4 fixtures simultaneously. The best tankless water heater is condensing, environment friendly (green), has high EF factor over 0.9 and lasts for many years.
  
  Storage tank type on the other side can supply multiple fixtures at the same time with no "cold water sandwiches".... no fluctuation in the temperature. The hot water is always ready. The best one lasts for over ten years, heats the water efficiently (look for EF 0.67 and higher) and meets your needs during the peak time.

• Selecting the right size will provide enough hot water, maximize the efficiency and savings. 50 gallons water heater is the most popular size as it serves a household with four people.

• Buy a high efficiency unit for great energy and money savings.
  
  The best water heaters are Energy Star rated or at least high efficiency. Check the EF factor as it defines the quality of the insulation, tank and burner design, ignition system... Thicker insulation, or higher R value, better. Buy the heater with at least R-16 as the heat energy loss (stand-by heat loss) through the tank walls is reduced.
  
  Energy efficiency on electric units is higher than on gas models. The most efficient and Energy Star qualified electric WH are electric heat pumps, while condensing gas WH among gas-powered heaters.

• Price and length of the warranty will be one of the first criteria used in selecting the best hot water heater. Cheap water heaters usually come with the lower quality and shorter warranty while the more expensive (the best) offer advanced engineering, higher efficiency and durability.
  
  Most of the water heaters come with the 6-year warranty, while the extended coverage (9 and 12-year warranty) is also available but with the additional cost. The main difference between models with the short and long warranty is in the anode rod. Larger anode is added to those heaters with the longer warranty (or more than one). Some experts say that it is not worth it to pay extra money as you can replace the anodes by yourself.
  
  On the other side, brands such as Whirlpool offer very useful features for their best water heaters, which are those with 12-year warranty. These features include self-cleaning system, high recovery rate and stainless steel heating elements.

The best brands and models

The best tankless water heater