Things to Consider When Shopping for Electric Water Heaters

There are so many things to consider when shopping for electric water heaters. The most important things to remember are operating costs and your family's water capacity needs. These days, everyone wants to save extra cash, and getting a new efficient water heater may be one way to do that. Electric water heaters are generally easy to maintain which make them so desirable.

The first thing to consider is whether you want a tankless or a conventional tank water heater. Both have many benefits and features. Conventional tank electric water heaters can hold anywhere from 20 to 80 gallons of water. They can be placed in a garage or a closet, and are quite economical. Tankless electric water heaters heat water with an electric element as it passes through. These models hang on a wall and free up floor space. These water heaters reduce energy consumption and make great options for people who use a small amount of water or live in a part-time residence.

Next, one must consider whether they want whole house or point of use electric water heaters. Conventional tank systems are whole house systems that can send water any place in the house that wants hot water. Point of use systems are individual units installed in a closet or under a sink and provide instant hot water to a specific location. These are typically tankless. However, tankless electric water heaters can be whole house systems as well. Point of use systems can supplement a whole house system when more hot water is needed.

Once you determine the kind of electric water heater you want, you need to consider capacity and size options needed for your family .Capacity of electric water heaters need to be chosen based on your household demand. An overworked, undersized water heater will have a shorter life span while working hard using lots of energy. A good way to figure this out is to go by the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in your home. For example, a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom home would work well with a 20 gallon tank. On the other hand, a 6 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home would require an 80 gallon tank.


To determine the size of a tankless water heater best to fit your family, you need to determine how much water you will need at one time. Add up all the gallons you use simultaneously to determine this figure. A faucet and shower typically run 1-2 gpm (gallons per minute) while a dishwasher and a washing machine usually run about 1.5-3 gpm. Tankless electric water heaters also sell by the temperature rise it needs to provide.
Electric water heaters on average are the third largest energy drain on a home. Most families prefer a unit that offers energy and cost savings. All electric water heaters you shop for will have an energy factor (EF) rating. This higher the energy factor, the more energy cost savings you will get. There are a few other features to consider as well: self cleaning, recovery speed, and an automatic shut off valve. Electric water heaters offer safety and convenience to any family that takes the time to choose the correct model.

Electric Water Heaters