The facts about standard electric water heaters

The majority of conventional storage water heaters are gas-fueled, but electric water heaters give you another power option for your water heating system.

Like gas models, most electric water heaters have a reservoir from 20 to 80 gallons. Turn on the hot water tap, and hot water is released from the top of the tank. Cold water enters the bottom of the tank, so the tank is always full.

Electric water heaters usually feature two electric elements, each with its own thermostat. The element at the bottom of the tank maintains a minimum thermostat setting. The upper demand element provides hot water recovery.

Conventional storage water heaters have become more efficient over the years, but they are still less efficient than a tankless water heater because water is constantly being heated in the tank. Standby heat loss occurs and energy is wasted even when a hot water tap isn't running.

Some storage water heater models with heavily insulated tanks significantly reduce standby heat loss. These particular models have a thermal resistance (R-Value) of R-12 to R-25.

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Contact your local Green Bay plumbing professional at K. Kelly now to learn more about hot water heater options and installation.