When many people say hot water heater, they are typically referring to a single unit that both heats and stores the water. This type of unit is sometimes called an automatic storage hot water heater. This type of unit must have some method of heating the water (typically oil, gas, or electricity) along with a tank to store the heated water.
The size of the storage tank typically varies between 30 gallons and 120 gallons, depending on the type of fuel used and the amount of hot water needed. Crystal Clear Plumbing evaluates both the fuel and the hot water demands to determine if the hot water heater is sufficient in size.
See the hot water heater comparison below for more information on hot water heaters with storage tanks.
A tankless hot water heater heats the water by circulating it through coils inside a boiler. As the water circulates through the coils, it is heated.
Tankless hot water heaters often suffer from performance problems, especially as they age. Many systems start out at an initial temperature hot enough to scald. After running for a short time, this hot temperature may fall to a relatively low temperature. To help overcome this problem, many people install hot water booster tanks in conjunction with a tankless hot water heater.
A variation of the tankless hot water heater is the instant hot water heater, sometimes called the demand hot water heater. In an instant hot water heater, water passes over a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is kept warm, usually by a gas flame or electric coil.
In residential applications, the temperature of the hot water should be around 120 degrees Fahrenheit, although some dishwasher manufacturers recommend 130 degrees Fahrenheit to assure that the dishes will be properly cleaned and sterilized. Lower temperatures are recommended by others to reduce the risk of scalding and reduce energy consumption. A lower temperature, however, increases the risk of bacteria growth.
Hot water that would scald in seconds at 140 degrees Fahrenheit will take minutes to cause the same level of injury at less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Many hot water systems produce hot water at well over 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The risk of scalding or serious burns, especially to children and elderly people, is high.
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