Hot Water Heating Systems

Conventional gas hot water heaters are some of the most common types of water heaters. The odds are great that your current or potential water heater will be a gas hot water heater. Homeowners tend to buy these more often since they are some of the less expensive water heaters in the market.

The average cost of a gas water heater ranges from $400.00-$600.00. Determining which type of gas water heating device you will need will depend on your needs. A family of three typically needs one that stores 30-40 gallons.  Whether they operate with tanks or happen to be tankless units will also have a bearing on the price.

Perhaps your older unit could handle 50 gallons of water with no problem. Maybe your children have moved out of the house and you do not need a family sized gas hot water heater anymore. It is wise to look for a model that stores at least 30 gallons – this way you will save money in energy costs.

If you feel that your current gas water heater is underperforming lately, it may be time to consider a newer, more efficient model. What people shouldn’t do is wait until their old hot water heating systems completely fail. If your heating device is more then 20 years old, the technology may be outdated.

When comparing gas water heating systems, it is recommended to compare these key factors (obviously besides the price of each unit).

What is the energy factor of the gas based hot water heater? Ideally, you want a number higher then .60. This is important because the higher the number listed the more energy efficient your unit will be.

How many BTU’s does the gas hot water unit have? 40,000 BTU should be your minimum.

What types of warranties are offered for the gas hot water heaters? A 10-year warranty is recommended, which should give you adequate protection in case something goes bad.

Gas-condensing water heaters are said to the “future” of gas power water heaters – and for good reason. 2010 should be the breakout year for the gas hot water heaters. These heating units will save you up to 30% in total energy costs over the course of a year. They heat up water very quickly so there will always be hot water when needed.

When is the worse time for a hot water heater to stop producing hot water? The answer is at any time.  It is never fun running out of hot water. Basically, a gas condensed water heater works the same way as the standard gas water heater, but not exactly.

A gas water heater’s combustion gases and heat have farther to travel before they exit the water, and thus, more heat is transferred to the water in the tank (unless you have a tankless gas hot water heater, of course). Regardless of that making sense to you or not, the point is that these units are very capable of heating water, and they do it well.

Compare gas hot water heater prices from as many manufacturers as possible and receive an installation quote. You may want to consider installing any gas hot water heaters yourself if you feel you can. This will save you money in installation fees surely, but may cause you some sleepless nights and headaches if you don’t know what you’re doing.