If you need a new water heater, you’ll have plenty of possibilities. However, before you choose the cheapest option available, there’s something you should know. It’s that your choice of water heater will have a bigger impact on your energy bills than you may realize. By choosing an energy-efficient water heater, you can minimize your water heating-related energy costs. Here’s what you need to know about energy-efficient water heater options.
Understanding Uniform Energy Factor
If you’re unfamiliar with it, Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) is the scale used to rate water heater efficiency. UEF ratings begin with sorting water heaters into four usage categories, which are:
- Very low usage
- Low usage
- Medium usage
- High usage
The reason for the categories is simple. It’s that demand plays a significant role in water heater efficiency, especially with storage tank heaters. For example, if you purchase a 50-gallon storage tank heater but rarely use hot water, its heat retention becomes the key to its efficiency. However, heat retention is not nearly as important in high-demand situations. The primary factor is the unit’s heat transfer efficiency into its stored water.
To determine a UEF rating, every water heater undergoes laboratory testing. The tests measure two things: the energy used during the unit’s first hour of water delivery, and its energy use during 24 hours of simulated demand. The data gets plugged into a formula, which yields an average energy efficiency rating. Most storage tank water heaters have UEFs ranging from 0.63 to 0.95. You can convert UEF ratings into percentages by multiplying them by 100.
The Most Efficient Water Heater Options
If you want an efficient water heater, the first thing you should realize is that tankless water heaters are typically more efficient than conventional storage tank models. Gas-fired tankless heaters have UEFs between .82 and .97. If yours is a low-usage household, the Department of Energy states that a tankless heater may use up to 34% less energy than a comparable storage tank model. Even high-usage households can reduce their energy use by up to 14% with a tankless unit.
If you’d rather stick with a storage tank heater, there are efficient options for you, too. Today, there are electric storage tank water heaters that incorporate heat pump technology. They boast UEFs between 3.3 and 4.1. You read that correctly. They operate at between 330% and 410% efficiency. By installing one, you can achieve energy cost savings comparable to those of a gas-fired tankless heater.
Now that you know about your energy-efficient water heater options, you have the knowledge necessary to choose wisely. We can make it easy to afford the one you want. Contact Aqua Gold Water Treatment in Muncie, IN today to ask us about our water heater lease options!