There are plenty of choices around, if you are looking for a water heating system for your home. We select the topic of traditional water heaters for this post. They refer to the old and trusted mechanism of having a furnace in your home, which heats water that you may use in all parts of your property.
Traditional heaters have their specific pros and cons, which make it difficult for selecting the right heater for your home. Here, we first describe how a traditional water heater works and then discuss the advantages and the limitations attached to its regular use.
How Traditional Heaters Operate?
Traditional water heaters operate by constantly heating the stored water to keep at the temperature set on the thermostat. These heaters usually have a tank with a capacity of 35 to 50 gallons. This is enough water to supply multiple water fixtures at the same time. All tank heaters work by heating the water according to the set temperature.
There are two types of heaters: fuel and electric. Fuel heaters often employ natural gas or propane; although it is common to find oil heaters in some areas. These units need a vent in order to remove the exhaust gases that are generated by combustion. These gases rise heating the water tank. There is a pilot in these heaters, which is always operating regardless of the temperature.
A larger stove or other mechanism only triggers in when there is a need to heat water which has dropped below the temperature setting. The electric heaters have a heating element that directly heats the water as required. These heaters are almost constantly operating, because the stored water loses some of its energy to the surrounding all the time.
These heaters receive cold water from the mains supply, which falls to the bottom of the tank. The heating element or furnace then heats the water, and the hot water rises up for use from the hot water pipe connection from the tank. The traditional water heaters are easy to recognize, as they are always large and cylindrical in appearance. Now, we turn our discussion to the pros and cons of employing a traditional water heater in your home:
The Pros
Traditional water heaters are still commonly employed in most parts of the country. This is due to the various advantages that they still offer, over other, more modernized products. Here are the details of some important benefits:
1.Low Cost Installation
Traditional water heaters are a low-cost solution. You can always buy a new one and put it in place of your existing water heater to once again resume normal functionality. All houses already have the required plumbing for installing these heaters. The costs of a tank water heater are approximately half, when compared to the modern tankless solutions.
Although, some experts believe that tankless water heaters can save money since they are efficient, the savings that you may get for a large house are not that much, as you may have to install multiple units to cover your entire house, especially if it covers a considerable area. The installation is also a solution that has a considerable lifetime, even if it is shorter than the modern solutions.
2.Easy to Replace
Not only installing a new traditional water heater cheaper, it is easier to replace. It is a plumbing project, which is easily performed by removing the older, worn out heater and then replacing it with a new one. You can also change the capacity with the new heater,if you find that there were problems with the previous water heater in use.
3.High Flow Rate
Since traditional water heaters have a large tank, they can offer a higher flow rate, compared to other options. The availability of several gallons of hot water means that you can use multiple hot water taps, without the temperature dropping by a significant margin. This may not be possible with a tankless water heater that has a limited water flow capacity in most settings.
The high flow rate allows that you only install a single traditional water heater, despite the size of your home. The tank of your heater also offers hot water storage, and is great for homes that may have multiple stories. It is truly an excellent solution when your hot water needs are plenty and you cannot wait for the water to heat up with a tankless solution.
4.No Complications
Traditional water heaters have been in use for several decades. They are a tried and tested method for getting hot water when it is cold and you need to enjoy a shower or wash dishes. The system may need more maintenance, but usually you are aware of the general practices that you must implement to good care of your tank type water heater.
The Cons
Traditional water heaters also have a few limitations. The most important one is due to a drive that we must conserve natural resources as much as possible, which may not be the case with the tank-type water heaters. Here are some significant cons for these heaters:
1.Greater Energy Costs
Since traditional water heaters must reheat water constantly to keep it at the pre-set thermostat setting, it always requires greater of energy resources. This, in turn, results in greater energy costs, especially during the winter months, when significant heat may be lost to the cold surroundings. However, the increased costs are often fractionally higher and only add up after several months of use.
2.Large Space
Traditional water heaters require a large space for installation. This means that they cannot be used in smaller apartments, and buildings where such a space may not be available. They cannot be put outdoors, since they will lose so much heat that their use will become inefficient. Traditional heaters may not be the ideal solution, when you need hot water in small living spaces.
3.Reduced Life
Traditional water heaters usually last for 10 to 15 years. You will have to buy them again after this period, which may be a hassle for some. Modern tankless heaters, on the other hand, can survive for much longer than that.
Traditional water heaters are still great for use in most water heating applications. If you are still unsure about the right solution, contact Mesa Plumbing Company at (480) 832-1660 to reach the best solution for your hot water needs!