Has the old, inefficient water heater in your home made it difficult to enjoy hot showers at the end of your long days because you know how much it costs to use it? Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric can help you replace it with a new, energy-efficient model through our water heater services in Henryetta, OK.
Before shopping for one, ensure you understand how efficiency ratings work. This guarantees you the most energy-efficient water heater possible, which is essential in Henryetta since homeowners in the city have recently been subjected to energy price increases.
Check out our water heater efficiency guide below to learn everything you need to know.
What Is a Water Heater Efficiency Rating?
Every water heater on the market today has an energy factor rating, which reveals how effectively a unit can convert energy into heat.
When you invest in a unit with a higher rating, you will experience monthly water heater energy savings as soon as you install it in your home. This elevated rating will tell you that a certain model is better at transforming energy into heat than one with a lower rating. Opting for one results in less waste, helping to minimize your home’s carbon footprint.
How Are Water Heater Efficiency Ratings Calculated?
When selecting a new water heater for your home, try to find a high-efficiency model whenever possible. Utilize water heater efficiency ratings to compare different models for efficiency.
Most manufacturers use the Department of Energy’s Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) as the standard measurement for efficiency. Here is how they calculate it:
- Water heaters are placed into one of four “bins” — very small, low, medium, or high — based on their daily usage.
- They are subjected to use tests and first-hour delivery tests to simulate their usage patterns over a 24-hour period and to illustrate how much water they can heat and deliver during their first hour of operation.
- They are given UEFs, highlighting how much energy they use to heat water vs. how much is wasted.
A model’s UEF is always less than 1 and expressed as a decimal that can easily be converted into a percentage to indicate its energy efficiency. For example, a unit with a UEF of 0.90 is very efficient, using 90% of its energy to heat water while wasting just 10%.
Ideally, you should look for options with high water heater efficiency ratings in Henryetta, OK, to ensure your home’s needs are met.
What Is a Good Water Heater Efficiency Rating?
The good news is that most companies that specialize in manufacturing water heaters have prioritized energy efficiency in recent years. As a result, almost any option you pick out today will have a “good” water heater efficiency rating.
Still, you should know what a good rating is. If you’re in the market for a gas option with a tank, look for a UEF between 0.65 and 0.85. If you’re interested in a tankless option, a UEF between 0.80 and 0.92 is usually best.
These days, there are even high-efficiency electric options with UEFs as high as 0.95. This rating guarantees superior water heater performance, making your electricity costs more manageable.
Which Factors Impact Water Heater Efficiency Ratings in Henryetta, OK?
Many factors help determine water heater efficiency ratings in Henryetta, OK. Fuel type is one of the first factors impacting this rating, as electric and geothermal models are often more efficient and have higher ratings than oil and propane ones.
Whether or not a unit has a tank is another big factor when figuring out its efficiency rating. Generally speaking, tankless models are more efficient than those with tanks since they heat water on demand rather than constantly having it on standby.
You can also affect a unit’s efficiency rating after welcoming it into your home. The harder you work to maintain it, the more efficient it will be moving forward. Keep it in excellent condition — and keep your energy costs down — by arranging to have it professionally maintained at least once every year.
Reach Out to Us To Schedule Water Heater Replacement in Henryetta, OK
Is it time to replace your home’s water heater? Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric will help you choose the right model for your home and discuss how to evaluate its water heater efficiency rating in Henryetta, OK.
We can also assist you with understanding expensive plumbing and HVAC repairs and provide tips to help you avoid them. Contact us today!
