from our "home remodeling" project library

Storage water heaters are the most common type of water heater in the U.S. today and hold anywhere from 20-80 gallons. These heaters can be run by electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil, sand heat the water and store it in an insulated tank. In contrast, instantaneous water heaters eliminate the storage tank and only heat water when it is needed. These types of home water heaters are growing in popularity and are generally more energy efficient than their storage tank counterparts.

Heating Your Home’s Water with Heat Pump, Indirect, and Solar Water Heaters

Yet another type of water heater, which uses a heat pump, does not rely on generating heat directly. These types of home water heaters use one-third to one-half as much electricity as a conventional electric resistance water heater.  Another option is an indirect water heater which uses your boiler as the heat source. Indirect water heaters, when used with high-efficiency boilers or furnaces, generally have the lowest operating costs among water heating technologies. In contrast, solar water heaters use energy from the sun to heat water. While the start-up costs of installing a solar water heater are high, it can be cost effective for the right climate, and if supported by tax credits.

Choose from the Most Energy Efficient Water Heaters

The Consumers’ Directory of Certified Energy Ratings for Water Heating Equipment helps consumers identify the most energy efficient models. Other government-backed programs such as the ENERGY STAR program help consumers identify energy efficient products so you pick the most appropriate home water heating system for your needs.