When looking to buy a new water heater for your home or office, it is vital to consider your hot water needs, as well as, other influential aspects, in order to choose the right one. Aspects like a property’s square-footage, the number of occupants, the local water table levels, eco-friendly agendas, and more all influence the type of water heater that’s right for you. There are several make and model hot water heaters on the market, from the traditional gas and electric, to the more modern tankless and portable styles. But many consumers are starting to hear about a new type of water heater that combines both tank and tankless styles. These water heaters are called hybrids.

Continue reading to learn more about hybrid hot water heaters and whether they are right for your home or office.

Hybrid Water Heaters

Hybrid water heaters are applauded for their energy-saving benefits. On average, twenty percent of a home’s energy usage is from heating water. This number can be dramatically reduced with the installation of a hybrid water heater. Not only does this help the environment, it saves money on monthly utility bills too. There are other styles of water heaters that are also very energy-efficient, so talk to your local plumbing contractor about those options too. But as for hybrid water heaters, they are highly beneficial for more than just energy-efficiency.

How They Work

Tankless and tank-style water heaters heat water from the bottom of the tank. Tank-styles heat water from the bottom of the tank, making air to rise up and exit from the top, allowing some heat to escape. Tankless water heaters also heat from the bottom but the water travels through copper piping rather than stored in a tank. In a hybrid system, it uses both pipes and a tank to heat and store water. Rather than just copper piping, like tankless styles, a hybrid water heater uses several pipes, up to 40 or more, that heat up. When water flows through them, it heats up fast. Unused heated water is transferred to a reservoir inside a hybrid water heater, and stored for future demand.

There are only a few models of hybrid water heaters on the market, such as the Eternal Hybrid Water Heater or the GE Hybrid Water Heater. The GE version has technology that absorbs heat from the surrounding air to warm water, while other versions involve other technologies like super capacitors, batteries, fuel cells, and more. Hybrids are more expensive than traditional models, costing anywhere between $2,000 and $3,000 or more, depending on the retailer.

Again, talk to your local master plumber for details about choosing the right type of water heater for your home and the installation and maintenance process.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for information about water heater installation and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner and master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, has been in the industry for more than 50 years! He and our team of licensed master plumbers retain all the knowledge, resources, and experience to provide accurate diagnostics and information regarding hot water heaters and more. Call 317-784-1870 and speak with a licensed master plumber in Indianapolis, IN about hot water heater installation, sales, repair, and more.