Faced with the multitude of equipment installed in homes in Canada, it can be complicated to know which water heater to choose for a home. Here are the different types of water heaters that you can find on the market:
- The electric water heater
- The gas water heater
- The thermodynamic water heater
- The solar water heater
The electric water heater
The instantaneous electric water heater
The installation of an instantaneous electric water heater will allow you to get hot water only when you ask. It is not stored. To do this, a resistance will raise the temperature of the water as it passes through the equipment. A dedicated power supply is also mandatory since the power required to heat the water directly is significant.
This equipment offers several advantages:
- The price: the price of this type of water heater is rather affordable
- The small footprint: there are different sizes that you can install in all the rooms of your home
- Maintenance: it is easy to maintain because the scale does not settle there since water is not stored there
- Lifespan: on average, the replacement of hot water tank only takes place every 20 years.
This type of water heater can be ideal for small homes where one or two people live with low hot water needs. It is therefore not recommended for families (3-4 people) since it is not suitable for delivering domestic hot water in very large quantities.
The electric storage water heater
The storage water heater has a tank where the water is stored and always remains hot thanks to resistance, to supply the housing with domestic hot water. It equips the vast majority of Canadian households.
The cumulus cloud makes it possible in particular to quickly supply the hot water needs of large homes, without having to place significant strain on the electricity network. All for a reasonable price. You can also adapt its capacity (from 75L to 3000L) according to your household and your domestic hot water consumption habits.
However, you should know that installing an electric storage water heater can be cumbersome given its size. Finally, regular maintenance is necessary to avoid excessive scaling or piercing of the tank.
Electric water heaters is the most popular types for Canadian homeowners
The gas water heater
As with electric water heaters, there are also two types of gas water heaters: instantaneous but also storage.
The instantaneous gas water heater
Like its electrically powered counterpart, the instantaneous gas water heater will allow you to quickly benefit from hot water tank, when you need it. This is a rather cheap solution since the price of gas is lower than that of electricity. Therefore, a medium-term investment, especially for limited domestic hot water needs, such as a studio.
However, the gas installation is much more complex since you must be connected to natural gas or store a butane/ propane cylinder at home. You must also have an exterior flue to exhaust the burnt gases. Annual maintenance is therefore mandatory for this type of installation.
The gas storage water heater
With a gas storage water heater, you are sure to quickly obtain hot water in large quantities. This is very interesting for homes with a large surface area, for a purchase cost and a rather affordable price of energy, but slightly higher than electric.
Moreover, this type of water heater remains very bulky and requires a specific gas installation, identical to that seen previously with the instantaneous gas water heater. Annual maintenance is therefore compulsory. This is a good time to check the tank for scaling and corrosion as well.
The thermodynamic water heater
The thermodynamic water heater combines a heat pump and a hot water tank. The energy present in the air is z. This system operates above 5°C / 41°F in the room where it is installed. Below this temperature, an electrical resistance then takes over to supply the hot water tank.
This type of water heater will allow you to reduce by 3 or 4 your energy consumption necessary to obtain hot water, compared to the electric water heater.
Indeed, the main drawback of this type of equipment is its purchase price. It is much higher than electric or gas models. The budget can even increase if you have to review your water flow installation to connect your thermodynamic water heater, which must be installed in an unheated room. An annual maintenance is also compulsory.
The solar water heater
The solar water heater uses the sun’s energy to heat the water stored in a balloon, via photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of the home. This is a solution allowing you to meet your hot water need while using renewable energy, on approximately 50% to 80% of your needs and this all year round.
This type of water heater has the advantage of being ecological. The reason is it does not pollute, does not emit CO2. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions from 45% to more than 70%. It uses much less energy than an electric water heater or a gas water heater.
However, this is only a backup water heater. You must pair it with another type of water heater to enjoy hot water all year round. Besides, the investment is quite important because you will have to install solar collectors and a specific hot water tank for your home. An annual maintenance is once again to be added to the overall budget for this type of installation.
There is plenty of research works before deciding on the best-fit type of this device for your household. If you have any concern or question about buying, replace, repair water heater, do not hesitate to contact MidCity Plumbers. We are proud to give the best plumbing and hearting services in Greater Vancouver area.
