6 Best Water Heaters For Single Family Homes
Water heaters are essential to homes because all water, whether you live in an urban, suburban, or rural area, comes into your home cold. Depending on the water heater you choose, it can warm the water in various ways, such as electricity or natural gas. The water heater turns up the water temperature in the reservoir, which makes the water nice and warm for taking showers, washing dishes, and doing laundry.
With many options, it might seem overwhelming about which one is right for you and your home. So, our Allied Plumbing & Heating Supply Co. team has compiled a list of the six best water heaters for single-family homes, including the features you should look for while researching your choices.
Features To Look For in a Water Heater
The first component you may consider is the price. It’s necessary to develop a budget for a water heater. The total cost may include the initial purchase of the water heater itself, installation work, and any additional tasks your home may require. Next, contemplate the type of power source you prefer. If purchasing a new water heater to replace the old one, the most money-efficient option is to stay with the same fuel source. A natural gas water heater is usually the cheapest option. Some utility companies may offer you incentives, like rebates, to switch from electricity to gas.
Think about how many people live in your home to determine the water heater capacity you’ll need. If you and one other person live in the home, a 40-gallon tank can do the job, but if four to five people live in the house, a 50-gallon tank might be the better option so everyone can enjoy enough warm water. Finally, select the largest tank available if there are over six residents.
Another feature to consider is whether you should have a tank or tankless water heater and its efficiency. A tankless or demand water heater might be more appealing as it offers an endless stream of warm water because the water heats up in the coils, but it’s more expensive. While the initial fees are costly, you may save more money on energy fees, and it can last between 10 to 15 years. A tank water heater warms water in the tank and may take longer to reheat. Tank water heaters may last about eight to 12 years.
Finally, the water heater’s tank construction is the last thing to consider. Sediment can build up in your water heater if you don’t maintain it. Sediment is a naturally occurring mineral, calcium carbonate, which causes hard water. It’s vital to drain the mineral naturally from the water heater because it can cause damage your tank and expose your water to harmful chemicals. There are self-cleaning water heater options, so you don’t have to worry about doing it.
Rheem Performance 75-Gallon Gas Water Heater
The Rheem Performance 75-Gallon gas water heater is perfect for a large family of six or more people. With a sizable family, a tank water heater might be the best option economically because you’re not using energy to keep the water at a warm temperature when not using water. In the first hour, you can get 100 gallons of hot water. It’s maintenance-free, meaning you don’t have to replace or clean any filters. Water connections come with the heater, making installation easy.
Price: $1,149.
Rheem Performance Self-Modulating Water Heater
The Rheem Performance Self-Modulating water heater is a great option for a small household. This water heater provides hot water continuously whenever you want it with its self-modulating technology. It has an electronic thermostatic temperature where you can read the warmth of the incoming water. You can adjust the water by one-degree increments. This water heater is also good for small, compact spaces, meaning you can put it in a cabinet or under a sink. It’s not self-cleaning, but easy to maintain and replace parts when required.
Price: $459.
A.O. Smith Signature 900 Hybrid Water Heater
The A.O. Smith Signature 900 Hybrid water heater is environmentally friendly. Family homes with three or four people may save up to $300 a year in energy fees with this heater. It has a heat pump that gathers the surrounding air for the tank. The pump is slower than most heaters, but this tank comes with two backup heating elements. If you buy this tank, you may qualify for rebates or tax credits. The heater has a washable filter that’s easy to access and clean. There are also four operating systems: efficiency, hybrid, electric, and vacation.
Price: $1,799.
Rheem Performance 40-Gallon Electric Water Heater
The Rheem Performance 40-Gallon electric water heater works well for those on a budget and is easy to maintain. This water heater takes less energy to keep the water warm between uses. It has an automatic thermostat to keep the water at your desired temperature. It’s easy to use this water heater as a replacement for old water heaters in most indoor spaces. It also comes with water connections to make installation simple. This electric water heater is perfect if you have two to four people in your household.
Price: $439.
A.O. Smith’s Signature 100 Series 50-Gallon Water Heater
The A.O. Smith’s Signature 100 Series 50-Gallon water heater is a smart choice if you’re looking for a traditional gas-powered water heater. This water heater works well for a household of five people. It’s also environmentally friendly and delivers 81 gallons of hot water within the first hour. The gas valves have an LED status indicator for diagnostic reporting and a start-up push button. This water heater is self-cleaning to reduce sediment build-up and allows the heater to last longer.
Price: $689.
Rheem Gladiator 50-Gallon Electric Water Heater
The Rheem Gladiator 50-Gallon electric water heater is popular because of its Wi-Fi-enabled leak detection and automatic shut-off. This water heater is best for a household of three to five people. You can connect the water heater to an app on your smartphone to monitor it easily. There’s also a vacation mode that helps you save money on energy when away from home. This water heater also automatically cleans sediment, which extends its life.
Price: $859.
Contact us if you have any questions as you research which water heater is right for you and your family. Our expert team can provide answers and resources to help you make the best choice possible. You can also call us at 773-777-2670 to learn more about our selection of water heaters.
Photo Credit: Image by Sigmund is licensed with Unsplash License
