Replacement Gas Water Heaters
The life of a gas water heater will vary depending on the care and maintenance of the unit. Once most water heaters are over 10 years in age, they are approaching the end of their life.
The two main factors that should be considered when replacing a water heater are cost and efficiency. High-efficiency gas water heaters have several features that reduce the cost of heating water.
- The tank walls have higher levels of insulation.
- Instead of having a standing pilot light, a high-efficiency model utilizes an intermittent ignition to reduce the time that the pilot light burns. The intermittent ignition device provides a spark to ignite the pilot flame only when needed.
- The heat exchanger efficiencies are improved, allowing heat from the gas burner to more efficiently and completely heat the water in the tank.
What To Look For
Efficiencies of water heaters are measured by the Energy Factor. Units with an Energy Factor of .60 or greater are considered high-efficiency models.
All water heaters should be installed according to the manufacturer's specifications.
