Plumbing and Drain Cleaning in Tukwila, Washington!
Our Tukwila plumbers offer a full array of plumbing services
to the Tukwila area including drain cleaning, toilet repairs and
more. No job is too large or too small for Tukwila's favorite
plumber. We have always provided our professional plumbers with
the training required in all aspects of the plumbing industry.
We recognize that our customer service is a critical factor in
selecting a plumbing contractor.
If you would like to speak to one of our customer services
representatives, please call
866.700.5435, or complete our
online
service request form.
Choosing A Water Heater
If
you are in a moderate climate, consider a heat-pump water
heater, which is more efficient than an electric water heater.
Though a heat-pump water heater may have a high initial cost, it
can save up to 50% of your water-heating bill in moderate
climates. Heat pumps can be added on to your water heater or
purchased as an integral part of a new
water heater.
The efficiency of water heaters is indicated by their energy
factor (EF), which is based on recovery efficiency, standby
losses, and cycling losses. The higher the EF, the more
efficient the
water heater. Electric resistance water heaters have EFs
ranging from 0.7 and 0.95; gas water heaters from 0.5 and 0.6,
with some high-efficiency models ranging around 0.8; oil water
heaters from 0.7 and 0.85; and heat-pump water heaters from 1.5
to 2.0. Everything else being equal, select a water heater with
the highest energy factor (EF). Also look for a water heater
with at least one-and-a-half inches of tank insulation and a
heat trap.
In the United States, all water heaters are sold with
EnergyGuide labels to indicate their energy efficiency. These
labels provide estimated annual operating costs, and also
indicate the cost of operating the models with the highest
annual operating cost and the lowest annual operating cost. By
comparing a model's annual operating cost with the operating
cost of the most efficient model, you can compare their
efficiencies.
Although some consumers buy water heaters based on the size of
the storage tank, the first-hour rating (FHR), provided on the
EnergyGuide label, is actually more important. The FHR is a
measure of how much hot water the heater will deliver during a
busy hour. Before you buy a water heater, estimate your
household's peak-hour hot water use (your water use during
morning showers, for instance) and look for a unit with an FHR
in that range.
Demand water heaters are an option that should be considered
when replacing a water heater or when building a new home.
Demand water heaters only produce hot water when you need it,
thereby avoiding the energy losses due to storing hot water.
However, they have a low flow rate and may not be ideal for
large families.
Tankless coil water heaters use a heating coil installed in the
main furnace for water heating. Common in oil-fired boilers and
some gas-fired boilers, tankless coil water heaters are an
inefficient means of heating water. A better solution is offered
by indirect water heaters, which use the main furnace to heat a
fluid that is then circulated through a tank of water. The
energy stored by the water tank allows the furnace to turn on
and off less often, thereby saving energy. If used with a
high-efficiency boiler and a well-insulated tank, this can be
the least expensive means of providing hot water.
For safety as well as energy-efficiency reasons, when buying
gas- and oil-fired water heaters, look for units with sealed
combustion or power venting to avoid back-drafting of combustion
gases into the home. Finally, it can save you energy and money
to put some thought into the best location for your water
heater. Whenever possible, do not install the water heater in an
unheated basement. Also try to minimize the piping runs to your
bathroom and kitchen.
Copyright U.S. Deptartment of Energy © 2004.
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