Water Heater

Water heaters are the systems in most homes that heat all the water running to sinks, showers, washing machines, and more. Typical designs look like large cylindrical tanks and are equipped with a heating mechanism powered by electricity, burner oil, or natural gas. Some more modern, green designs use solar and geothermal heat for power.

Tankless water heaters, also referred to as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, immediately heat water on demand, as opposed to storing a supply of hot water in a tank. When a hot water faucet is turned on in a home, the tankless water heater activates and immediately begins to heat the cold water entering the unit, sending heated water to the faucet. Tankless water heaters bypass the energy losses that storage water heaters are prone to and are more cost-efficient.

Tankless water heaters can be powered by natural gas or liquid propane. Both power sources have their advantages. Natural gas heaters are cheaper to run as natural gas is cheaper than liquid propane. Even though they are slightly more expensive than natural gas heaters, liquid propane heaters are eco-friendly and more efficient due to the higher yield of heat they output. Choosing one or the other depends on your needs, priorities, and your ease of access to either fuel source.

Storage tank water heaters are by far the most common type of home water heaters, operating by filling a 20-to-80-gallon tank with a a ready reservoir of heated water to be dispersed whenever a hot water faucet is turned on. However, tankless water heaters are rising in popularity due to their energy and cost efficiency. They provide an instantaneous, essentially unlimited supply of hot water at around two to five gallons per minute.

A thermal expansion tank is a safety device that serves as an overflow receptacle for a normal storage tank water heater. When the water in the storage tank is heated, there is sometimes excess water volume or fluctuation in pressure due to thermal expansion. A thermal expansion tank’s job is to absorb that excess to prevent damage or injury in the event of pressure or temperature extremes. Expansion tanks also help to prevent dripping faucets or running toilets by keeping built-up pressure from reaching the appliances.

An open water supply system has direct access to the city water supply, meaning that any expanding or excess water can flow back into the city supply. Many homes, however, have a closed water supply system with a one-way valve, meaning any extra water pressure cannot push back into the city supply. This is why most cities require expansion tanks to be installed with closed water supply systems. Browse HomElectrical’s selection of expansion tanks to find the right one for your water supply system.