The Best Gas Water Heater
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Purchasing any type of water heater can be a big decision, but if you specifically know you want a gas water heater then you need to know which are the best ones out there. Whether you chose to heat your water with electric or gas, tanks come in different sizes and qualities, and you want to get one that will last you a long time.
Tanks have improved over the years, and if you purchase a new home then chances are you will get a tank that is efficient and safe. However, if your home and current tank is old, you may want to consider replacing it. If your water tank is heated with gas, the good news is that new technology has improved and these are more energy efficient and do not let heat escape through thin walls anymore. New models have also eliminated the need for the pilot light to be constantly burning to maintain water temperature. The new gas water heaters are also 5%-10% more efficient.
Using natural gas over propane is less expensive and burns cleaner. Typically track homes have natural gas and urban houses on land will have to have a propane tank on their property that is refilled every few weeks or months. The only downside to using a gas heater is that they lose some energy in exhaust gases, but they are still cheaper to use.
When looking for a heater that uses gas, you want to make sure that new safety measures have been incorporated into the unit. A new tank guard against the pilot light can possibly ignite surrounding flammable vapors, and the carbon monoxide output is low. You want the tank to serve its purpose for your home and have a high enough flow rate. The better tanks are made by Navien America and range from $1300-$1500. These typically last a home for more than eight years.
The biggest thing to keep in mind when getting the best gas water heater is to make sure that the tank is going to be able to cover your everyday usage. You want to stick to better-known companies since they are the ones that put the technology into their tanks and the safety measures. Although they may cost more, it will be well worth the investment for the long term.