Electric Heating Systems

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), water heating accounts for up to 17 percent of national residential energy consumption, the third largest energy end-use in homes behind heating and cooling units and kitchen appliances. As homeowners install amenities that require increased hot water volume, such as luxury tubs and custom showers, the percentage of energy used to heat water will continue to rise.

In an attempt to address this significant percentage of energy consumption, DOE has developed ENERGY STAR criteria for water heaters, the last major residential appliance that the program has not addressed. According to DOE projections, Americans are expected to save approximately $780 million in utility costs while avoiding 4.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions by the end of the fifth year in effect.

Five categories of residential water heaters will be eligible for Energy Star labeling - high-performance gas storage, whole-home gas tankless, advanced drop-in or integrated heat pump, solar and gas condensing. The new Energy Star criteria go into effect in 2009.

"The Energy Star program empowers consumers to make smart energy choices that will save money and energy, and reduce our carbon footprint," said DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Andy Krassner. "Expansion of the Energy Star program to include water heaters will give Americans yet another way to more efficiently use energy in their homes and, in the interest of increasing energy security and addressing climate change, help further the President's goal of fundamentally changing the way this nation uses power."

By leveraging the established value of the Energy Star program, DOE hopes that manufacturers will focus on developing more efficient technologies and that consumers will recognize that Energy Star water heaters will deliver similar or better performance than conventional models while using less energy and saving money. According to an April 2008 report released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Energy Star label favorably influences more than 70 percent of households, up from about 50 percent in 2003.

More than 9,000 organizations have joined Energy Star as partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. The Energy Star label now appears on more than 40 kinds of consumer products. A.O. Smith, industry leader for more than 70 years, has engineered a full line of Energy Star water heaters to meet the hot-water needs of households while benefiting budgets and the environment.

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Before you make your hot water heater purchase you should determine if you have made the best choice. Evidently you have made the choice of an electric hot water heater. To make sure that you have gotten the best bargain for you, you should takes some steps to ensure your best interests. There are four steps that we can recommend.

Step One - Look At Your Fuel Choice

If you have an availability of an electric water heater and a gas water heater, do research about the costs of the two different types of fuels, over time. Not all areas have both choices available and the rise in electricity and gas costs have altered which water heater is the best value anymore. So rather than just say an electric water heater is the better deal or that a gas water heater is the better deal, is no longer a valid designation. Check that any electric water heater review you use covers the new prices for gas and electricity.

Step Two - Check An Electric Water Heater Review

There are several consumer magazines and appliances retailers that have electric water heater reviews available for your use. Make extensive you of them to check the availability of features that you need and want.

Step Three - Look At The FHR

There is a rating on all water heaters called the first hour rating is the amount of water that will be heated and delivered in an hour. This is an important rating and should be covered in any electric water heater review, if it is not covered, you may want to look for another review for more complete information.

Step Four - Check The Energy Efficiency Rating

Each water heater listed in the electric water heater review should have an energy efficiency rating number. It is a rating of how efficiently the water heater uses fuel and the costs over time. The higher the number the better. There is also another step within this one. Check with your local electric company to determine what rebates, if any, are available for the replacement by an energy efficient electric water heater. It is not usually a large amount, but it helps with the costs.

As a final thought, there may be a rebate from your home owners insurance or home warranty company for the replacement. Sometimes the electric water heater review may note this information, if not call both companies and verify rebates or discounts for the new appliance.

When you are in search of the best electric water heater, it can be a real chore. There are no many choices available, so much information, and most of it not all in one place. This is going to try and give you some ideas for purchasing the best electric water heater. One thing to remember first, not every water heater is the best electric water heater for you. Here are some items to check to find the best electric water heater for your needs.

Energy Efficiency Rating

Your water heater choices will all have an energy efficiency rating number. That number is how energy efficient your appliance is and what it will cost you to operate. That number provides you two things, its tells you water heater is going to cost you more, over time. It also provides you the information you will need to contact your local utility company to see if you qualify for a rebate for energy efficient appliance upgrade. Your best electric water heater will have a high energy efficiency rating, for you cost savings over time and a number sufficient to qualify you for a rebate.

Warranty

Next issue which could make your water heater purchase choices narrow, is you warranty. You want a warranty of at least 12 years. Many water heaters will come with a 6 year warranty, but the water heaters with a 12 year warranty are usually made with better materials. Your best electric water heater needs to have the 12 year warranty, otherwise you will be back making decisions of this type too soon.

Water Heater Size By Gallons

Water heaters come with different gallon sizes from 3 to 80. If the number is below 20 gallons you are not looking at a house water heater, but a booster or on demand water heater. Find out how many gallons your current water heater has. This will either be on a label on the body or on an engraved plate on the body. Is the current water heating situation sufficient for you. If not, look into a larger water heater. The downside to a larger water heater is the additional energy to run it. If you do not want higher electric bills, then you need to stay with the same size water heater to make it the best electric water heater for you. Also check the first hour rating, with is how much heated water the heater can produce in one hour.

Last The Cost For The Heater

Check the prices of the units with the factors we laid out above. Find the most in the different categories for the minimum amount of your money. Purchase from a reputable source so that you can have support for the major purchase you are making. Now you will have the best electric water heater, for you.