If you had installed your storage tank water heater when fuel and electricity were abundant and cheap, then you would have realized that times have truly changed for the worse. Instead of paying huge bills to heat up your water you can easily save money and energy by shifting to a direct vent water heater.
If you have a bulky storage model that seems to be guzzling electricity or gas then you should replace it with the latest tankless direct vent gas version as this can enable you to save around 10% to 30% in your energy bills. Gas heaters require a steady supply of oxygen and this is usually sucked from the area surrounding the heater. This could result in precious pre-heated air from within your home being sucked into the heater creating a negative pressure, while any exhaust gases could be released inside the house itself and pose a danger to you and your loved ones.
A direct vent water heater is basically a sealed unit that has either two pipes or a concentric pipe [pipe within pipe] to suck in fresh air from outside the bathroom and also dispense exhaust gases outside. This maintains a positive pressure within your home and lowers your energy bills of other heating products since it does not use precious heated air while also ensuring that your water heater receives an unlimited supply of quality oxygen-rich air at all times. Another advantage is that such units can be ported vertically or horizontally, thus offering much more flexibility during installation.
You can choose from a fan-assisted model that will require a low amount of electricity or even a model that does not require a fan or electricity to run it. Since you need not heat up a lot of water, store it and then use it as you normally do in a conventional storage model, you will be saving a lot of energy and money when you install such a point of use direct vent water heater. The sealed construction will also ensure no contamination of any kind from outside, and this will ensure that you will be spared from high hot water heater repair bills after the warranty period.
You can walk into any home improvement store to check out the different models and brands of direct vent water heaters or even hop over to the Internet and view various models and study their specifications. For example, one made by Rheem that can supply between 4.2 to 7.4 gallons of hot water per minute depending on the temperature can cost you around 30 [Model No. RTG-66DV], while another model made by Paloma Industries that can supply around 0.66 to 7.4 gallons per minute can set you back by 9 [Model No. Picasso 7.4 Series]. Both these models are tankless and use natural gas, although you can also find models that use propane gas. You can choose a model and size that caters to your requirements and fits within your budget and your bathroom.
With electricity rates set to rise at a constant pace in the coming years, it will pay to shift to a direct vent water heater that uses natural gas and saves money and energy in the process. These water heaters are safe, cost-effective and offer flexibility in installation. Instead of cursing your energy bills you can now sing happily in your bathroom when you have the right direct vent water heater installed in your home.
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