Your Quick-Start Guide to Water Heaters
When it comes time to replace your old water heater, the expert plumbers at Shumate can help you determine which model is right for your home and budget, with your family's water heating needs and energy usage expectations always at the forefront of any decisions we make. To make your search a bit easier, we've compiled the following guide with some of your options.
Conventional water heaters (aka storage tank water heaters)
These are some of the most popular water heaters and operate by way of an insulated tank which both heats and stores the water. The natural gas versions are particularly energy efficient, with relatively low operating costs compared to electric water heaters, but there's a higher up-front fee.
Conventional water heaters will require regular maintenance to maintain efficiency and efficacy, including annual drainage and flushing to remove sediment and buildup. Depending on maintenance, a storage tank water heater may last between 10-12 years.
Tankless water heaters
Rather than storing pre-heated water, tankless water heaters heat water on demand using flashes of heat against water-filled coils. Although they have higher up-front costs than conventional storage tank water heaters, tankless water heaters are a solid investment because they are statistically more energy efficient.
Tankless water heaters can be adjusted for large families that use a lot of hot water at one time by providing a continuous flow. If you already have a large diameter gas line, tankless water heaters work well with natural gas. Otherwise, there are plenty of electric tankless models. Our plumbers can check to ensure your electrical and gas system is suitable for your desired water heater.
Like storage tank water heaters, tankless water heaters require annual servicing to rid them of mineral buildup.
Heat pump water heaters (aka hybrid electric water heaters)
These types of water heaters absorb heat from the air or ground to transfer that heat to the water. Despite a higher up-front cost than full electric models, they use significantly less energy, delivering marked savings for many homeowners.
Solar water heaters
Roof-mounted solar panels capture solar heat and run it into an antifreeze-like fluid in a closed-loop system through the water tank. Homeowners can see optimal savings on solar water heaters over the summer months, making them well-suited to the sunny regions of Georgia and the South. Often, there may be federal and local rebates available to offset the installation costs for solar powered plumbing systems.
Condensing water heaters
Condensing water heaters funnel hot exhaust gases that would normally be expelled from a home into a coil in the base of the water heater. This type of heater is highly efficient for homes with natural gas systems.
There is no job too large or too small for Shumate Plumbing to handle in the areas we serve, including providing HVAC services in Alpharetta. We cater to all of your plumbing or remodeling needs. For everything from pipe leaks, clogged drains, bathroom remodels, water treatment systems or tankless water heater installations our master plumbers are tops in the industry! We aim to provide 100% customer satisfaction, meaning Shumate will always aim to uphold the highest standards for our team of service professionals.
Other companies may appear to offer identical offerings, but our services are top rated, and come with a personal touch that only a master plumber can provide. No matter the problem, if you have a plumbing need inside your home, our Master Plumbers will help you find the solution. Call 678-SHUMATE for Plumbing Service today!