Water heaters are a home staple, and this rings true if you live somewhere cold as you’re always in need of hot water. People often want hot water to drip out of the faucet when they turn it on, and they only realize how much they need warmth once the heater breaks down or once the electricity runs out.
Considerations Before Installing
In US states where winter gets extremely cold like Virginia, it’s important to have a well-functioning water heater. You might be one of those looking to replace their broken-down equipment or maybe you want to install one. What you first need to consider is your location to narrow down your options. If you’re from Winchester, you can ask installation services such as DM Select Services – water heater installation service Winchester and others nearby to know about the right water heater for your home.
The following are some details to gauge the cost of water heater installation:
1. Different Kinds Of Water Heaters
There are several types of water heaters available in the market, and it’s essential to know each of them because heaters come with different features at various prices. Here are some of them:
- Solar Water Tank Heater
This type of water heater utilizes sunlight in heating your water. The heater has a solar panel gathering heat from the sun and a tank where the water is stored. A standard unit of this has an extra water tank you can use if there are any emergencies.
The system solar heaters use has two major types: active and passive systems. The former is used for pumping water supply to the household, whereas the latter is only used to transfer water all over the household. This means an active solar heater requires more labor. For this reason, it tends to cost more than passive heaters.
- Electric Water Heater
Electric heaters are typically a cheaper option than gas heaters, but if you total all the monthly costs, then electric heaters are priced at a higher cost. However, it’s because electric heaters are usually safer than their gas counterparts. Electricity has less chance of combustion and no probability of leaking, but the disadvantage is you can’t use your heater when the power is out.
- Tankless Water Heater
This type of heater only warms the water when needed as it makes use of gas burners and electricity. Because this is tankless, you cannot store heated water as well.
Tankless water heater tends to be smaller than its alternative, so you can easily store it in the basement or utility rooms. There are also smaller ones you can mount and connect to your bathroom wall. However, it tends to be more expensive upfront because a lot of labor is required for the installation, adding to it new water and gas lines which increase the cost.
Although tankless heaters cost more money, they usually last more than other heaters as the expected life span for this type is more than two decades.
- Tank Water Heater
This is the common pick for most homemakers because a tank water heater can regularly carry and heat supplies of water. You can store this in the basement or the garage, and you could also have the option to operate either through gas or electricity.
Tank heaters don’t require a lot of effort when it comes to installation since it only takes a maximum of four hours. This type also costs lesser than tankless ones, but it isn’t efficient when it comes to energy consumption because water is always being heated, requiring a constant supply of energy.
2. Installation Expenses
The cost of a water heater doesn’t end at its retail price as you must also consider how much the installation will cost you. The most significant factor is the plumber who’d install since these professionals have different rates. Typically, they’ll charge you around USD$45 per hour.
You can estimate how much the installation will cost since it usually takes around 3-4 hours. However, other types of tanks take up to a day to install, depending on which type of heater you bought.
Tank heaters take the shortest time to install. In comparison, solar heaters are the most challenging and most costly.
3. Size Affects Cost
The size of your tank will also affect the price of water heater installation. Most water heaters have measurements in gallons, and how much water you can use is affected by how large the unit is.
If you get one that’s not proportionate to your household, you run the risk of randomly running out of hot water. Also, if you get something too much for your needs, then you’ll more likely be paying for a higher bill by the end of the month.
A general rule of thumb is the bigger the tank, the more it’ll heat water and the more it’ll cost when installing. To get the right size for your home, have an estimate of about ten gallons per person.
4. Other Factors
You should also consider other factors affecting the cost of installation such as:
- The size of your home, including the layout and added labor
- If you’re looking to install traditional heaters, you might also need expansion tanks as they’re responsible for decreasing the possibility of getting any damage to the plumbing system due to pressure.
Expansion tanks are most commonly used in closed water systems, so you might also want to count in your budget if you have a water system nearby.
Conclusion
Each type of water heater comes with its distinct features, and these are accompanied by a designated price range. If you’re looking to get a water heater installed, you have to factor in what you need and want from a unit.
Whatever the water heater installation’s cost is, make sure you hire a professional to ensure your expenses will be worth it. Don’t do it yourself or risk your household safety by letting someone inexperienced and uncertified do the installation. After all, installing a water heater is for your convenience.