Water heater efficiency is a hot topic because heating water that you don’t immediately need uses a considerable amount of energy. If you’re noticing unusually high energy bills, here are two ways to check how efficient your water heater is.
Age
If your water heater is older, it is possible that it will not meet current efficiency criteria. If your water heater is 10 or more years old, it could be time to replace it with a high-efficiency model.
Check the manufacturer’s label on your water heater to find out how old it is. Usually, the serial number includes the month and year of manufacture. There will also be an Energy Guide label, which will be a bright yellow color if your water heater is high-efficiency.
Older water heaters list their anticipated annual cost and energy consumption right on the label. In order to let you know how much hot water it can truly produce, newer UEF labels also provide a first-hour delivery (FHD) rating on storage tank types and gallons per minute (GPM) value on tankless versions.
Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) Rating
The UEF rating of a water heater is a gauge of its energy effectiveness. Higher numbers indicate more efficient models. The UEF is determined by the water heater’s energy consumption and the energy required to power the water heater.
Consider UEF as an exchange rate; water heaters with high UEF ratings will provide you with more energy for your money. UEF ratings for traditional gas and electric water heaters that have earned the Energy Star label typically range from 0.65 to 0.95, or 65 to 95 cents on the dollar. In contrast, those for hybrid electric heat pump water heaters are substantially higher at 2.75 to 3.5.
The water heater efficiency increases as the energy factor rises. However, higher energy factor values only sometimes translate into cheaper annual operating costs, especially when weighing up fuel sources.
Contact the Experts
Higher efficiency results in less energy wasted, which lowers your utility costs. It is vital to reduce the energy used to heat the water since this consumes the second-highest amount of energy on your energy bill.
Your water heater replacement is not as frightening as you might imagine. Call PJ's Plumbing & Heating today, and one of our skilled technicians will assist you in selecting and installing a high-efficiency water heater that suits your needs. Our other services include bathroom plumbing, kitchen plumbing, plumbing repairs, fixture installation, leak repairs, and drain repair and replacement. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment.
