How to buy Water Heater?

Overview

Who doesn’t prefer a hot water bath in the cool winters or to sooth muscles after a tiring day? This is where water heater comes in the picture. The purpose of water heater is not only to provide hot water but to do so safely.

Before purchasing a water heater, you need to know certain things. To begin with lets us get you familiar with the types of water heaters that are available in the market.

Types of Water Heaters/Geysers

1. Storage/Tank Geysers – By far, this is the most common type of geyser. They are affordable and easy on maintenance (priced between Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,500). The water is stored in it and heated as per requirement, so that it is available at any time of the day. As we use up the stored water, the heater refills itself with a fresh supply. The only flip side of this geyser is that it is big in size and uses up a lot of energy.
2. Tankless Geysers – Unlike storage geysers, they do not store water in them; instead they circulate the water incoming through by gas or series of electric coils that heats up when the tap is turned on. They do not consume much energy either.
3. Solar Water Heaters – This heater uses the sun’s energy to heat the water. This design was not very common in India but is now used in many states across the country. For this heater solar power panels are required that are quite expensive and require timely maintenance.
4. Instant Hot Water Dispenser – This geyser provide hot water instantly. It is compact in size, easy to install and hot water is available on demand. Heating only the required amount of water makes it energy efficient.

Features to Consider

1. Auto Off – The auto off feature in a water heater has two important purposes. Firstly, it helps you save energy by switching off the unit in case you forget to do so. Secondly, it helps in protecting you and your family from accidents.
2. Energy Consumption – A geyser/water heater is a very powerful machine hence it needs to be energy-efficient. A good geyser is one that heats water efficiently while consuming less energy.
3. Maintenance – Solar water heaters are expensive to maintain and so are the electric water heaters. Gas water heater doesn’t require much maintenance. You are only required to replace the burner every two years.
4. Storage Capacity – When it comes to water storage, a conventional tank/storage type heater is the best. A big tank water heater can store up to 150 liters of hot water and it will suffice for all your kitchen, bathroom and laundry requirements. On the other hand, a tankless water heater is able to supply only a few liters of hot water at a time.

With the help of these pointers, you can select an appropriate water heater that suits your lifestyle and budget.