2018 Water Heater Installation Costs | Price to Replace a …

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Hot water is an essential part of modern life, a necessity rather than a luxury. So choosing and installing a water heater is a very important decision in the life of your home. Whether you are replacing an old water heater or installing a brand new system, you may be concerned about the price. There are a number of factors that play a part in the cost of installing a new hot water heater.

Average cost with installation:

Water heaters come in two different styles: tank and tankless. Both heat your water, but they do it in different ways. A tank style water heater stores a given amount of water, usually 40 to 50 gallons, and keeps it heated to the temperature you set it at, sending it along when you open the hot water tap. A tankless system doesnt store the water and heats it only when you need it by means of a series of super-heated coils. Each kind has its good points and bad points:

Tank

Pros

Cons

Tankless

Pros

Cons

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Water heaters are either gas-fired or electrically-fired. The difference between the two is how the water is heated, via natural gas or electrical resistance coils. Gas water heaters are less energy-efficient than electric water heaters, but the cost of electricity can still make gas the less expensive choice. Here are some other points of comparison between the two:

Electric

Gas

Energy Source

Whatever your city uses

Natural gas

Works During Power Outage

No

Yes

Lifespan

About 12 years

Recovery Rate

About 14 gallons per hour

About 50 gallons per hour

Energy Efficiency

90%

60% - 70%

Cost Over 12 Year Lifespan

$6248.00

$4979.00

Price of Unit

$300.00 to $2,880.00

$250.00 to $1,500.00

For a large family of 5 or more people, a gas water heater will be the most suitable. The fast recovery time will ensure that you have enough hot water for your needs in as short a time as possible. Even the on-demand tankless water heaters cant keep up with the high demands of a large family and will slow the water to a trickle the higher the demand gets.

Small families and studio apartments can often use an electric or tankless water heater (if the apartments are on individual units). With a tankless system, the relatively low demand on the water heater allows you to take full advantage of the energy efficiency without taxing the unit.

Solar Water Heaters

Some people supplement their hot water system with a solar water heater. While these can help increase the hot water available for your family, they are also very expensive. They can cost over $1,000.00 at their base price, and the amount of savings varies widely according to your use.

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To determine what size water heater you need, keep in mind that bigger isnt always better. A conventional water heater is running all the time, so it will waste money to heat water that youre never going to use. Fortunately, calculating what size to get is easy, requiring only simple, grade-school level math.

First you need to figure out your FHR (First Hour Rating). This is the amount of water youll use during your homes peak time of water usage. This is usually first thing in the morning when everyone is taking showers, brushing their teeth, filling the coffee pot, etc. To do this, count the number of people in your household (or, if the house is currently unoccupied, count the number of bedrooms) and add 1. A four-bedroom house, for example, would come out to 5. Multiply that number by 12, the estimated gallons of hot water each person will use. For this example, the total is 60. (4+1=5, 5x12=60).

Now that you know your homes FHR, youll want to get a water heater with the highest energy factor (EF) that you can afford. All of this information should be on a yellow label on the water heater.

The average water heater for a family of 5+ is around 50 gallons. The average FHR for these units ranges from 67 on the low end to 81 on the high end.

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To begin with, lets revisit grade-school science: hot water expands.

Water is not compressible, which means that as it heats up, it will not press in on itself. It will look for somewhere to go. Check valves keep the expanding water from flowing back into the municipal water supply. This helps your municipality protect the city water supply from contaminants.

So where does that water go as it expands? Most water heaters have a little room inside for expansion. However, even though water doesnt normally expand by much, any system can fail. In this case, the expanding water flows into the expansion tank. The expansion tank is usually more than adequate to handle the anticipated pressure from your tank.

Do you need one? Yes. Without a safe place for the expanded water to go, you can experience a total failure of your water heating system. This is a fancy way of saying that your water heater and/or pipes can burst. Many codes today require an expansion tank be installed with new construction. For a retro-fitting, most expansion tanks cost between $40.00 and $70.00. Someone who is handy with tools can install their own. If you have any doubts, though, call a plumber. This project involves gas and/or electrical lines.

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Do you need a new water heater? Here are some easy ways to find out. Some may require a little periodic checking while others become obvious only after things have gone wrong:

When it comes time to replace your water heater, its best to call a professional. This way you can be sure that everything has been done safely and to code.

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The most popular brands of water heaters are popular for a reason. They are reliable, affordable, and readily available. Some brands, such as AO Smith, are sold exclusively by plumbing wholesalers and contractors. Others are available at your local hardware or home improvement stores.

The costs above are estimates for the water heater only. They are for the common 40- to 50-gallon capacity units and do not include installation, transportation, or other additional costs.

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A water heater is a must in your home. As technology advances, the efficiency of these systems will increase, making hot water even more affordable than before. Though some systems can be installed DIY, its best to call a professional to be sure the job is done right.

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