Dealing with a broken-down water heater can be a bit of a hassle. More often than not, people find that their water heaters break down when they least expect it, causing them a cold shower or two before they have it replaced. Most water heaters last for some years before they need replacing; the good news is that there are now more options on the market than ever before.
Should You Buy Into an Electric Heater?
In days gone by, buying an electric water heating unit was not very popular. Many people had gas boilers and the electric units were just not very efficient. Fortunately, this situation has changed dramatically and it is now possible to invest in electric units that are really energy efficient.
One of the more popular water heating units is the continuous hot water heater. Technology has improved to the point that this type of new heating unit is being installed in many new home builds because of the benefits that it provides over older types of units.
The Benefits of Continuous Electric Water Heaters
If you have been sitting on the fence with regard to continuous hot water heaters, the good news is that there are now plenty of units from which to choose. In general, continuous hot water heaters provide the following advantages:
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Efficiency: Older-style water heaters typically relied on a water tank to hold a volume of water that was heated by a gas-fuelled flame. The problem is that heated water could sit idle in the tanks for a long time before being used, making them very inefficient. Continuous electric hot water heaters only heat water when it is needed. This means that there is very minimal heat lost, making these units a lot more energy efficient.
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On Demand: Perhaps the biggest benefit of the continuous hot water heater is that water is heated on demand. This means that hot water is available all of the time to householders. This also means no more turning on the shower to find that the hot water has been used up by teenage sons and daughters!
Choosing the Right Unit for Your Needs
Ultimately, the right type of water heating unit is a personal preference. Continuous water heaters certainly offer some very attractive advantages over older systems but they are also not necessarily fit for older homes. Where gas piping is already present, for example, a gas or combi system may be preferable.
Continuous electric systems are certainly very popular these days but in some cases, rewiring will be required so that they can be installed correctly. All of these factors need to be weighed up carefully before investing and making a decision.
