The Ultimate Guide on Different Hot Water Systems
Electronic items in your house always add to the comfort and make living better. One such home enhancement is the hot water system. A water heater is one of those much-needed enhancements in your house that can make water usage much more comfortable on a daily basis. Without a hot water system, you have to take help of other costly ways to heat water, which can spike up your utility bills and also elongate the process of heating the water, thereby, wasting time as it requires more efforts. But a well-chosen water heating system is always a boon for a household.
Types of Hot Water Systems
Hot water systems are of several types. The types are defined on the basis of storage of water and on the basis of how the system is powered. On basis of storage or flow, the water heaters can be storage-based or continuous and instant flow based. On the basis of powering, the water heaters are mainly of four types, namely, gas water heaters, heat pump heaters, electric heaters and solar water heaters.
#1. Storage-Based Water Heaters
Whatever be the source of power, storage-based water heaters are favored by many users. Storage heaters can heat a large quantity of water in one time and can store that water for use later, thereby, eliminating chances of you getting any cold water in case, there is a power failure or shortage of gas or energy for the heater. This means that you can store hot water for using it later, without having to run the heater again and again. But, in spite of that, users do have to deal with power wastage as a lot of power is consumed in heating and much of that heat is lost due to insulation problems with the storage tank.
#2. Continuous Flow Water Heaters
Such types of water heaters heat the water instantly. If you run the tap, the heater heats the water instantly and when you close the tap, the heater stops heating. This means you get instant hot water without having to deal with heat and power loss. Also, the water heater is received in a balanced state, so that there is no chance of burns. Mixing the heated water with cold water to balance temperature is not required in this case.
#3. Heat Pump Water Heaters
This is one of the economic water heating systems which many houses uses for reduced power bills. In this case, the natural heat from the air is used to heat the gas inside the hot water system. The gas, initially, in liquid form is heated to a gaseous state and then it is pressurized highly. As a result, the heat from it dissipates into the water in the tank and the water gets heated. In the process, the heated gas that’s compressed liquefies again and then, again it is made to heat up by absorbing heat from the surrounding air. These systems use very low electricity.
#4. Solar Water Heaters
Solar panels fitted in the system accumulate solar energy on a normal day when the sun shines brightly. This is then transferred into electrical energy which thereby, heats the water in the tank. On cloudy days or bad weather day, the power generation is less. These are highly economic and environmental-friendly heaters, but the initial cost of installation and price of these heaters are high as compared to others.
#5. Natural Gas Water Heaters
Natural gas-powered water heaters are far more economical than heat pump and electric hot water system. These heaters can be powered by LPG or natural gas and both are environmental-friendly fuels. These heaters are good for energy efficiency and instant heating.
#6. Electric Water Heaters
Electric water heaters are the most common hot water system. That is because of the low cost of the appliance and the low cost of installation. The cost of running it, however, is not low, and you have to pay a steady monthly power bill.