The Wide World Of Water Heaters

Water heaters are found in almost every home and are a vital part of many daily activities people take for granted, including dish washing, washing clothes, cooking, space heating, and bathing. And those are only the domestic functions that water heaters assist in. Water heaters also play an important role in the commercial industry. Although water heaters play a role in our everyday life, many people don't take the time to learn exactly what water heating is and what the different choices for water heaters are. The following article describes what a water heater does and the different types of water heaters currently available.

A water heater uses a heating, thermodynamic process that uses an energy source to heat water. Some of the most common energy sources that water heaters draw from to heat water include natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, oil, and propane, and some water heaters even use solid fuels through the use of electricity or from nuclear or renewable resources. And as technology continues to advance, many people are turning to even more energy-saving alternative sources of energy, such as solar energy, heat pumps, and geothermal heating.

For both domestic and industrial use, most water heating systems utilize tanks. Water tanks are usually cylindrical in shape and vary in volume size. The larger the tank of a water heater, the more water it can store and the longer hot running water will last without having to turn it off and wait for it to heat up again. And the more insulation a water tank has, the warmer it can keep the water while using the least amount of energy.

Traditional water heaters can typically hold 20 to 80 gallons of water. Hot water moves out of the top of the tank, and new water moves in through the bottom, ensuring that the tank always stays full. Under the bottom of the tank, a gas burner heats the water in the tank, and in some water heaters, the water is warmed instead by electricity.

The above paragraphs generally describe conventional storage waters heaters, but there are a variety of other types of water heaters available, including demand or instantaneous water heaters, heat pump water heaters, solar water heaters, and tankless coil and indirect water heaters. All of these types of water heaters can vary in size, energy efficiency, and cost--which are all items people must consider when choosing what type of water heater to incorporate into their home or business.

Demand or instantaneous water heaters heat water without using a storage tank. These water heaters are particularly unique because they do not store water, but rather heat water on demand whenever it is needed. Demand water heaters offer several advantages. They do not generate standby heat loss that other water heaters do, which can save both energy and money. They also supply a constant flow of hot water without running out. However, the main disadvantage of instantaneous water heaters is that they flow of water is frequently weak because it cannot output as much water as quickly as other water heaters can.

Another type of water heater is the heat pump water heater, which doesn't generate heat directly, but instead moves heat from one place to another. Heat pumps are usually used to heat or cool the air in a home, but they can also be used in conjunction with a water heating system or by themselves to heat water. And because they don't have to generate heat directly, they can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional water heaters. Essentially, a heat pump water heater pulls heat from the air around the unit and uses that heat to warm water. It's important to note that heat pump water heaters work best in moderate to warm climates.

Solar heaters, on the other hand, use the power of the sun to heat water. And because these water heaters use a free energy resource, they offer the highest cost savings out of all the different types of water heaters. In general, there are two different types of water heaters: ones that use circulating pumps and controls and ones that do not. For those who are interested in solar water heaters, it's important to note that they can incorporate a variety of different circulation systems and heating methods, and it's good to investigate the different kinds of solar heaters before choosing one to use in your home or building.

And the last (although certainly not the least) water heater is the tankless coil and indirect water heater. This water is unique because it doesn't use a tank to store water and uses the home's or building's space heating system to warm the water. Specifically, tankless indirect water heaters use a heating coil or exchanger that is installed in a main furnace or boiler. When hot water is turned on, the water flows through the heat exchanger or coil and provides hot water on demand. These types of water heaters are also more energy efficient than more conventional water heaters.

With so many different types of water heater available, anyone can find the right water heater for them. And whether a person is looking for Texas water heaters or a California water heater, all types are available across the United States. Water heaters play a central role in our everyday life, and by knowing more about them, we can better appreciate them and take advantage of what they have to offer.

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