Types of Water Heaters

There are several different types of water heaters on SupplyHouse.com. These types are split into two styles, tank and tankless. Tank heaters come in a variety of option including conventional, indirect, heat pump and solar water heaters. Tankless units come in Electric and Gas options.

Conventional water heaters are the most common, with a tank of hot water that is maintained 24 hours a day. The tank keeps gallons of water heated for use whenever it is called for. These units can run on natural gas, propane, oil and electricity. We also offer a few high efficiency units in a condensing style.

Indirect water heaters are storage tanks that use a home’s existing space heating systems to produce your hot water. This results in basically free hot water when you are running your boiler to heat your home. However, this requires you to keep your boiler on year round, which is especially inefficient in warmer climates.

Heat pump water heaters essentially act as reverse refrigerators. These heaters pull heat from the surrounding air and deposit the heat into the tank, which is a very efficient method of producing hot water. The only power drawn to operate these heaters is from the fan and compressor, which pull much less electrical current than traditional electric water heaters. They can shave a great deal of money from your bill but can only be used in areas where the temperature stays between 40 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Solar water heaters use the sun’s heat to provide hot water. Solar heating systems are composed of solar panels, or solar thermal collectors, fastened to a roof facing the sun.

Tankless or on-demand water heaters produce hot water as it is needed without the use of a storage tank. When a system calls for water, it enters the heater. In gas heaters the burner ignites and the water circulates through a heat exchanger coil. In electric units the water enters and goes through a coil of heating elements. The water heats up instantly and since there is no tank to fill, there is no end to your supply of hot water. The wall-hung design can also free up space for additional storage. These units run on natural gas, propane and electricity.
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