Types of water heaters: a homeowner’s guide

Choosing a water heater starts with understanding the main types available and how each one heats water. The right pick depends on your home, your household size, and how much hot water you use day to day.

Here is a quick rundown of the water heater types you will come across on the market.

Common types of water heaters

• Storage tank water heaters: the most common type, storing hot water in a tank until it is needed. They can be powered by electricity, gas, or oil.
• Tankless water heaters: these heat water on demand without a storage tank, and can run on electricity, gas, or propane.
• Heat pump water heaters: these use electricity to move heat from the surrounding air or ground into the water, making them more energy-efficient than traditional electric water heaters.
• Solar water heaters: these use energy from the sun to heat water, an environmentally friendly option that can save money on energy bills over time.

The size and type that fit you depend on factors such as the size of your home, the number of people in your household, and your hot water usage patterns. Whichever type you run, proper maintenance keeps it operating efficiently and helps it last for many years. Nur HVAC specializes in heat pump water heaters and sizes each one to the home before installation, so it delivers efficient hot water from the start.