Water Heaters

It´s always a drag to find out the hard way that your water heater needs to be replaced; it is, however, necessary. In general, the average water heater will last 5-8 years in Florida. If you wait beyond that, you take a chance. Not only is the water here in Southwest Florida hard on the water heater, but water heaters also rust.

There are many types (standard tank heater, tankless, and of course solar) and sizes. Also, warranties for water heaters vary. There are gas or electric heaters. They come in tall, medium, and short. They are also available in different gallon sizes. Most water heaters have a label on them which states the date manufactured and what the gallon capacity of the water heater is. So you can replace it with the same size and even, if you want to or need to, you can change it for a larger size.

If you live in a condo, consider using a marathon water heater. These units have a great warranty, which includes that it will not leak! Every condo should have a marathon water heater, and many of the condo buildings in Florida are asking homeowners to look into these water heaters, just for that reason!

I always tell my clients to make sure they have the proper sized water heater for their needs and requirements. If you are a single person or couple in a condo, a small 30 or 40 gallon is usually what is installed. But if you have a family of 5 you would run out of hot water in no time. If you need a new water heater, consider how much hot water you usually consume at home. I ask clients the following questions before installing a new water heater:

If you are remodeling and you want to install a custom shower, with body sprays and jets or you have one of those larger rain heads, keep in mind that these require a lot of water and will drain the average heater in no time. Then, you must upgrade. Many people never consider this during construction of their bathroom and then they find out they don´t have enough hot water. Why spend the money for a custom shower if you can only be in it for 5 minutes? These are the perfect applications for the tankless water heater.

A New Item on the Market is the Voltex

Over twice as efficient as a standard electric water heater.

• Absorbs environmental heat and transfers it to heat the water, at the same time cooling and dehumidifying the ambient air
• 80-gallon tank means more energy created through the heat pump technology can be stored, resulting in larger savings
• Can operate in high-efficiency, hybrid and electric modes
• User-friendly LCD display for easy interaction
• Conserve energy thanks to 2.3 EF (Energy Factor) rating
• Eligible for tax credit up to $1,500
• ENERGY STAR® qualified

How does Voltex™ Hybrid Electric work?

The Voltex™ Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater is an integrated system that utilizes heat pump technology to provide a more efficient way to heat water with electricity. The Voltex pulls heat from the surrounding air and deposits the heat into the tank. The end result is a very efficient production of hot water, with cooler and dehumidified air as a welcome by-product. Follow the link below for more information on this heater.

Tankless heaters work by heating water when you need it. In this way, you never run out of hot water. There are some that are energy-saving, since the heater is not turning on to keep the water in the tank at a certain temperature. They also are available in gas and electric and they don´t have to be sized to fit a certain household. These also come in different sizes.

Put the sun to work for you, I say. The amount of money for state rebates and the federal tax credits will lower the cost of a solar water heater unbelievably. You can get a return on your money within 3-4 years. The water heater in a home is one of the top 3 highest energy draws on your electric bill. So if you can save that money, the solar water heater would pay for itself. They are the cleaner and safer way to go. We will not fill up landfills with empty old water heaters, so that is even a way to help the planet! See our page dedicated just to Solar water heaters.

Rheem

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