Traditional water heaters use a large tank to warm up the water before distributing it into your home’s plumbing. Some Orlando, FL homes use tankless water heaters instead, which generate hot water according to need instead of maintaining a reservoir the way tanked modes do. Both types have their benefits and drawbacks, but there may be a third option – hybrid water heaters – that successfully provide some of the benefits of both models.
The biggest drawback to a traditional tank water heater is inefficiency; the tank itself loses a great deal of heat over time and the cost of maintaining that hot water can be considerable. Tankless water heaters eliminate that waste, since they heat the water when you need it rather than keeping it heated all the time. Instead of being stored in a tank, cold water passes through a heater that quickly raises the temperature, then passes it on to the faucet, eliminating the need for storage.
On the other hand, tankless water heaters can’t always keep up with a high demand for hot water; according to the U.S. Department of Energy, they work best when you use less than 41 gallons of water a day, and their efficiency drops when you use more than that.
To save energy while giving you plenty of hot water, hybrid water heaters make use of a heat pump, which helps pull the heat from the surrounding air and use it to warm the water stored in the tank. That makes them much more efficient than more conventional water heaters. They are hybrids because they can switch back and forth from the heat pump to a traditional electric water heating. They can be installed fairly easily by a trained professional. Their energy efficiency lets homeowners save money while still taking advantage of standby heated water.
If you’re wondering whether a hybrid water heater is a good fit for you, contact Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. for a consultation. We can inspect your existing water heating system and determine if you could benefit from the installation of a hybrid heater. Our trained experts are available throughout the Orlando, FL area, so don’t hesitate to call!
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The water heater of a home is one of its most important components. It uses more energy than any other appliance, since, unlike the air conditioner or the central heating system, it needs to operate every day people are home. When you are in the situation of purchasing a new water heater, you want to make the best choice possible—because hopefully you’ll be living with this same system for more than a decade to come.
