4500-Watt vs. 5500-Watt Water Heater: Efficiency & Costs

When you are thinking of getting a new water heater, you will definitely want to read this article. Specifically, I will compare the various types and sizes of water heaters available on the market today. After reading this article, hopefully you will have a better understanding of what type of water heater is best for your home.
Before you start looking for a new water heater, you should know a few things about it. First, the amount of energy it uses will greatly depend on how much water you are using in your household. Secondly, the way the water flows through the heating element will also have an effect. There are two types of heating elements used in water heaters, namely the ones with a collector plate and a radiant coil. Let’s take a look at these types in more detail.
If you have a room with a shower, you may consider getting a hot water heater with a collection plate. On the other hand, if you do not have a running shower or just don’t like to take showers, you can always use the tankless heater. Tankless heaters do not store warm water in the tank, rather, warm water flows from the tank to the heater where it is warmed up. As such, there is no need to keep a large tank of warm water next to your shower. In fact, tankless water heaters are actually quite compact.
As previously mentioned, there are basically two types of water heaters – tankless. You should be able to tell the difference between them by looking at the shape and size of the tank. If you are thinking of purchasing one of the smaller ones, such as the ones that fit on the counter, you probably want to go with a tankless heater. Since there is no storage tank for the water to cool down in, when it reaches the temperature you want, it has to work harder to maintain the temperature. While tankless water heaters do make the water warm faster, they also require more energy to keep the temperature at the desired level.
On the other hand, tankless water heaters use the same type of tank to store the water but there is an outlet pipe that allows the warm fluid to be released. This means that the water stays hot, it just has to heat up on its own. Because of this, tankless heaters do not require as much energy to keep the temperature where you want it to be. In fact, it takes energy only to start the process, and the rest is easy maintenance.
Another thing to take into consideration when reading a review about the best one is to pay close attention to the specifications. It is important to know what type of fuel the heater uses in order to judge how fast it heats up the water and how much it costs to operate. You also need to consider whether or not you are using a shower head or a direct drip. The difference between the two will affect the output of the heater. A good rule of thumb is to assume the higher the wattage, the hotter the water will get, but a lower wattage will give a more consistent heat output.
You also need to compare the heat output of the different units in order to determine which ones have the best price. The heaters that offer the most power for the dollar usually have the better features and better accessories to go with them. Those that just cost a little bit more will probably do better in the long run, but in most cases, it is not worth the extra money to get the better models.
The best water heaters may cost a bit more than you think. Keep in mind what you are getting and how it will be used before deciding. Find out what the warranty is and what to look for in a high-end product. Doing this research will help you make a well informed choice and give you the information you need to make an educated decision on the product you want to purchase.