New Water Heater Technology That Provides More Hot Water While Saving Energy

When you think of water heaters, the first thing that may come to mind is the conventional tank storage water heater. Tank water heaters store between 20 to 80 gallons of hot water and are relatively inexpensive to purchase and install. However, because they must maintain a set temperature for a large volume of water, they can be more costly to operate. In addition, if the tank is not sized to meet the needs of the household, you may run out of hot water when demand exceeds the tank’s capacity. 

Newer water heater technology is designed to address some of the shortcomings of the traditional tank-style water heater.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless or demand-type water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. A gas burner or electric element heats the cold water as it passes through the water heater. Households that require a lot of hot water can benefit from a virtually endless supply of hot water. One downside to tankless water heaters is they typically cost more to purchase and install, although they can last longer than conventional tank water heaters when properly maintained. Another disadvantage of tankless water heaters is they can take longer to heat the water initially when the tap is first turned on. 

Hybrid Water Heaters

Hybrid water heaters are designed to combine the benefits of a conventional water heater tank with a tankless water heater’s on-demand efficiency. They have a small attached storage tank that provides an initial supply of hot water, then switch to an on-demand heating system to maintain a continuous supply of hot water.

Heat Pump Water Heaters

Heat pump water heaters distribute heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly to providing hot water. 

Solar Water Heaters

Solar water heaters use the sun’s heat to heat water. A roof-mounted solar collector absorbs the sun’s heat and stores it in a special fluid that circulates in a closed-loop system that heats water in a tank. 

Have questions about which water heater is right for your home? Call Ostrom, we can help match the best hot water solution to your household’s needs.