How To Select A Best Water Heater

Gas hot water heaters are common in most of the houses due to ease of maintenance. Gas hot water heater is used to provide hot water continuously for a specific time. Heating capacity of a gas heater is improved with the addition of a simple jacket. The energy efficient gas heater should be maintained at a safe temperature.

Two feed pipes are fitted at the top of a water storage tank. One pipe is used for hot water and the other for cold water. The pilot lamp is kept in a control box, which is fitted on the front side of a heater. It automatically switches on if the temperature of the tank falls below the set level in the control panel. The pipe, which runs from the center to the top of the tank, is responsible to transfer heat to the water.

The cost of a gas heater goes up if the size of the tank goes up. The amount of hot water produced depends on the storage tank size. In order to get continuous supply of hot water, you need to install large tank water heaters. A tank with a capacity of 40 gallons is normally sufficient to meet the average consumption of a house. Buy large gas heater only if you have more hot water requirement. The cost will be less if you use small capacity tank. Addition of an insulation jacket improves the efficiency of a gas heater. Insulation jacket prevents heat loss from the body of a tank. It also helps to keep the water remain hot for longer period. Precaution should be taken to keep the control panel uncovered.
Set temperature in the range of 102 to 125 degrees with the help of a thermostat, which is kept on the top of the control box. It helps to prevent accidents.
Gas water heaters are cheaper when compared with electric water heaters. The following features need to be considered when decided to buy a gas water heater.
Flow Rate and Tank Capacity:
Select the one that has best flow capacity and lowest tank capacity based on your requirement. Next look at the amount of hot water generated per hour.
Fuel Source
Natural Gas is a bit expensive but burns cleaner. Liquid propane fuel is another option for gas water heaters. It is cheaper when compared with natural gas. Necessary precautions are to be taken to prevent carbon monoxide leaks.
Safety
Carefully select the gas water heater that comes with built in safety measures to prevent accidental ignition of any flammable vapors that leaked into the room. This feature helps to save lives.