Water Heater Styles

Learn more about the different water heater styles available

If you are in the market for a new water heater it's wise to do some homework before you begin shopping. With so many different styles of water heaters available you'll find that having a basic understanding of each one will help simplify the decision.

Here's a closer look at some of the more popular water heater styles, including solar water heaters, electric water heaters, and gas water heaters.

Solar water heaters

Currently there are more than 500,000 solar water heaters installed in the United States to heat water for homes as well as swimming pools.

Solar water heaters heat water by pumping the cold water from the regular water line through a thermal energy collector. The solar water heater's thermal energy collector is exposed to the sun, which provides the warmth needed to heat the water. Once it is heated the water is moved to the solar water heater's tank, which moves it back into the regular water system for use. If the water is cooled before it is used it simply is circulated through the solar water heater system again.

Most solar water heater systems are installed so that the water is not pumped through the thermal energy collector at night since that could result in heat loss due to the lower temperatures.

A homeowner that switches from an electric water heater to a solar water heater could potentially save up to $500 annually. Depending on your needs, a solar water heater could cost as much as $3,000. However, it usually pays for itself in less than seven years.

Electric water heaters

Electric water heaters are a popular option because of their reliability and simplicity. Some consumers prefer electric water heaters simply because unlike solar water heaters it is a system that is easy to understand.

Operated by electricity, an electric water heater also can save you money if you select an efficient model. For example, if you replaced an older electric water heater with an efficient model like the Titan electric water heater you could potentially save up to 60 percent on your energy bill.

Gas water heaters

In some cases gas water heaters are more cost effective. In areas with energy issues such as California, a gas water heater is likely to be cheaper than an electric water heater. If you currently have a gas furnace or stove you may find it to be more efficient to select a gas water heater. However, in some cases the decision may be predetermined by whether or not you even have a natural gas outlet available near the water heater.

More information on water heaters