Water Heater/Hot Water Tank
SELECT THE RIGHT WATER HEATER
Feel confident you’re choosing the right hot water heater for your home. Understand the different types of hot water heaters and the features you should look for.
Choosing Electric or Gas Water Heaters
Electric Water Heaters
- Generally cost less to purchase than gas water heaters
- Easy to maintain
- Require no combustibles or venting
- Heat water quickly
- Offer high energy factor ratings
Gas Water Heaters
- Require a larger up-front investment, but usually cost less to operate
- Must be vented outdoors for safety
- Units with sealed combustion or power venting increase safety
- Not affected by power loss(tank-style only)
Electric Water Heater Standard Features
- Temperature & pressure relief valve
- Energy saving heat traps
- Corrosion resistant tank lining
- Energy efficient foam insulation
- EverKleen™ self-cleaning system
- Fights sediment build-up
- Reduces energy costs
- Extends the life of the tank
Gas Water Heater Standard Features
- Temperature & pressure relief valve
- Porcelain enamel tank lining
- Rigid foam insulation
- Self-cleaning system
- Fights sediment build-up
- Reduces energy costs
- Extends the life of the tank
Additional Features
- Automatically shuts down if flammable vapors are detected
- Maintenance-free protection
- No filters to clean
- Standard replacement parts
- Available on most models
Storage Tank
Constantly stores heated water
- Economical
- Good for steady, high-use demands
- Capacity ranges from 20 to 60 gallons
- Efficiency varies between models, brands and fuel sources
Tankless
Heats as it passes through the water heater
- Larger up-front investment
- Excellent option for residences occupied part-time
- Hangs on wall and frees up floor space
- Provides continuous hot water
- Reduces energy consumption by as much as 30%
- Gas heaters may require venting
- Can be one large unit (whole house) or individual units where hot water is used (point of use)
CAPACITY
It’s important to select a hot water heater that provides enough hot water for your home. An undersized water heater will work harder and have a shorter lifespan.
STORAGE TANK
Determine the proper capacity for your household based on the number of bathrooms and bedrooms in your home. If you choose to purchase a unit with a tank, consult the table below for help in determining storage capacity.
| Determine Water Heater Capacity | ||||||||||
| Number of Bathrooms | 1 – 1.5 Baths | 2 – 2.5 Baths | 3 – 3.5 Baths | |||||||
| Number of Bedrooms | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Number of Bedrooms | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 60 | 60 |
Tankless
This unit heats water directly without the use of a storage tank. To determine the size of the tankless water heater you would need, you must calculate how much hot water you need to use at one time. Routine behaviours, such as running the dishwasher while taking a shower, can exhaust a smaller tankless unit. It is best to understand the demands and expectations you have for your tankless water heater before you purchase.
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