Maximizing Efficiency & Safety: A Guide to Choosing the Right Water Heater for Your Florida Home

When you’re in the market for a new water heater for your Florida home, it’s important for you to make the right choice. You’ll have plenty of options to pick between, but it’s all about finding the one that will maximize efficiency and safety in the long run at your property. So, how can you go about finding the right water heater? Meares Plumbing and Electrical has put together this comprehensive guide to choosing the right water heater for your Florida home. 

Types of Water Heaters You May Be Considering 

As you begin to do your research in hopes of finding the right water heater for your home in Florida, you’ll find that you have the following options: 

  • Tank water heaters – Also known as storage water heaters or traditional water heaters, these are the systems that run on electricity or gas to heat your water. It’s the most common type of water heater, as the insulated tank can hold a lot of water and retain heat to keep the water warm until it’s needed. 
  • Tankless water heaters – Sometimes known as on-demand water heaters, tankless water heaters are an alternative to the traditional systems as they don’t use a tank and heat water only as it’s needed. In other words, it supplies you with warm water on demand—it’s ready when you need it, but it’s not stored in a tank. 
  • Heat pump water heaters – This is an increasingly popular option that uses a compressor and refrigerant system to transfer heat from the air to the water in the tank.  
  • Solar water heaters – Similar to the tank water heaters, these systems use solar energy to heat the water rather than gas or electricity. They absorb sunlight and convert it into heat, which is carried into the stored water so that you have hot water when needed. 

Which Water Heater Type Is the Most Efficient? 

Of these water heater choices, there are a few options to think about when it comes to energy efficiency. Tankless water heaters are energy efficient, as they only heat water as needed. Not only that, but the tankless systems tend to last 20 years or longer with proper maintenance. Heat pump water heaters are another energy-efficient choice, given they extract heat from the air or ground rather than generating the heat themselves. As a result, they can produce heat using much less energy than other systems. 

Solar water heaters are up there as far as the most energy efficient as well. Considering they derive their energy directly from the sun and not from gas or electricity, they can be a big help to your home’s energy efficiency. They can also reduce your carbon footprint, which is always a plus. 

How to Ensure Your Water Heater Works Safely & Performs Optimally for a Long Time to Come 

Of course, no matter which type of water heater you choose for your Florida home, the importance is that you get longevity out of your system. But it’s not just about longevity—it’s about safe and efficient operation for years and years to come. One of the best ways you can make that possible at your home is to keep up with regular maintenance and inspections. When you have a professional take a look at your water heater on a routine basis, you can get ahead of any potential problems and make sure everything is working as it should. 

A Team You Can Trust for Water Heater Guidance in the Tampa Bay Area 

If you’re local to the Tampa Bay area and you want further help on choosing the right water heater for your home or you need an installation, replacement, repair, or inspection, Meares Plumbing and Electrical is the best team to call. Contact us today to learn more.