Installing a hot water heater in your home requires you to answer some troubleshooting questions prior to making your final decision. Knowing your local building codes, the size of water heater you need, the intended installation location and which type of fuel you have available in your home can help you make more intelligent choices when it comes to purchasing your water heater and hiring the correct contractor to install it.
Checking the building codes of your local municipality is a must when it comes to installing a water heater. While national plumbing codes exist, local codes will override national codes. For example, California requires you to provide earthquake bracing for all residential water heater installations. The bracing protects against tip-over or movement of a water heater during an earthquake that could cause additional damage to your. Other areas require codes in other municipalities could require you to install an expansion tank to protect the water heater from thermal expansion and a possible explosion.
Regardless of the type of water heater you choose to install in your home, size it correctly to ensure its efficiency. Each water heater requires different calculations, but all calculations require you to know the number of full bathrooms, the number of bedrooms, the number of family members and the number of appliances in your home that require hot water. The upfront cost of installing a water heater that can accommodate the hot water demand in your home can be expensive, but the recovery time and the energy saved over the years makes the expense worth it.
Local building codes may also dictate where you choose to install a hot water heater in your home, but regardless of codes, there or a few things to consider when choosing the water heater location. Choose a space for your water heater close to the area requiring the most hot water, such as the laundry room. Your municipality’s building codes may require you place a water heater tank on a raised platform, so make sure you have enough height in the installation space to accommodate your water heater. Also, locate the water heater in an area where tank leakage would result in the least amount of damage.
You can purchase electric, gas, solar and even hybrid water heaters that operate on electricity but also utilize a heat pump to reduce your energy costs. If your neighborhood does not offer gas service, do not attempt to install a gas water heater; however, with the help of an electrician and a plumber you can install an electric water heater even if you have gas service in your home. Installing a solar powered water heater requires the installation of solar panels on your roof.
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