Homeowners

Water heater manufacturers offer a wide array of water heater types, models and efficiencies to meet your needs. Since the choices are many, you can narrow your search first by answering these simple questions.

1. Select the type of water heater. Learn about the different types of water heaters below to better understand how this heating equipment works to provide your home with hot water.

• Storage water heaters
• Tankless (demand or instantaneous) water heater
• Heat pump water heaters
• Indirect water heaters

2. What type of fuel/energy source to be used?

• Natural gas
• Oil
• Propane
• Electric
• Solar
• Geothermal

3. How much hot water do you use in your home? Use our worksheet to determine the amount of hot water used in your home.

Once you’ve determined the maximum usage of hot water used in one hour during a peak usage period such as the morning, you can find a model with a First Hour Ratingmatching your peak demand.

Will the water heater fit in the space available in your home? Measure the space where the water heater will be placed including depth, height and width. You also should measure door ways to the area where the water heater will be placed to make sure it make through these entrances.