Gas Water Heater Installation in Polk County & Central Florida
Heating water for your home accounts for approximately 18% of your household expenses. The only higher expenditure is your heating and/or cooling costs. If you’re in the market for a gas water heater installation, your biggest choice will be whether to go tankless (demand) or storage.
For energy efficiency, long-term savings, and improving the value of your property, the ROI for a tankless gas water heater is hard to beat. But they cost more upfront.
Need help deciding the right size hot water heater for your household? Our water heater sizing guide can help!
Advantages of Gas Water Heaters
If you already have a gas water heater, you’ll probably want the same kind of replacement. But you can upgrade your energy efficiency with your new gas water heater.
There are several advantages to gas versus electric water heaters:
- Gas water heaters are faster (faster water heating is also known as “high recovery rate”), and they cost less to operate because natural gas is cheaper than electricity.
- Gas water heaters cost more upfront, but their long-term use justifies the expense.
- If your electric power goes out, you’ll still have hot water when you need it.
Many people feel electric water heaters are safer than gas. It’s true that gas water heater leaks can be a risk, but they can be used quite safely. We advise gas water heater owners to install a carbon monoxide detector near the water heater and check the flame color regularly.
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Tankless vs. Storage for Your Orlando Home
A traditional storage water heater can last 10 to 15 years. A tankless gas water heater can last 20 or more years, but they cost almost twice as much as storage gas water heaters.
One disadvantage of tankless gas water heaters is slower delivery. Tankless water heaters generate 1 to 5 gallons per minute. That’s not much hot water at a time. Translation: You can run the dishwasher immediately after taking a hot shower, but you might not be able to do both at the same time. Consider your usage patterns when deciding which style is better for you.
Sizing a Gas Water Heater
“What size gas water heater do I need?” It’s a logical question and very important. Sizing a water heater depends on more than square footage. The number of people in your home and your lifestyle are factors.
Here’s one way to determine water heater sizing:
Determine the hour/time of day you use the most hot water.
Multiply the applications (usage) by the gallons of hot water used:
- One clothing/washing machine load = 7 gallons
- One dishwasher = 6 gallons
- One hand dishwashing/food prep = 4 gallons
- One shave = 2 gallons
- One shower = 10 gallons
For example, a 40-gallon gas water heater can accommodate two showers at the same time, but not if you’re using many other appliances. Another way to determine size is “per person.” If your household has one or two people, a 23- to 26-gallon water heater might work.
- Two to three people, small storage tank (40-60 gallons)
- Three to five people, medium/large storage tank (60-80 gallons)
Iceberg Home Services Is Always Here for You
Our family has been serving families like yours for over 70 years. The Iceberg Home Services team of HVAC and plumbing professionals live here, too, so we’re in your neighborhood when you need us.
How can we say we’re the best? Because we have a passion for customer care and quality workmanship that distinguishes us from other companies. And if you value testimonials and customer views, Iceberg Home Services has over 650 reviews on Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Yelp.
Is this the year you may need a new gas water heater? Don’t wait for an emergency. Let’s work together to decide the best type of water heater at an affordable price for your home. Call (863) 223-1849 or contact Iceberg Home Services today.
Gas Water Heater FAQs
A gas water heater should have its tank flushed every 6 months. This prevents sediment, rust, and corrosion from building up in the tank. This depends on where the water is leaking from on your water heater tank. If the leak is coming from the top of the tank, it could be a component such as a fitting that has failed; in this case, often the water heater can be repaired. If the leak is coming from the bottom of the tank, this can indicate the tank has developed a crack or rupture, in which case the water heater should be replaced.
Additional Water Heater Resources
