
How an Electric Water Heater Works
Most electric water heaters use electric resistance elements to heat the water in the storage tank. A two-element electric water heater has one element at the top of the storage tank, and one element at the bottom. Each element is controlled by an independent thermostat. The lower element provides recovery from standby losses, and the upper element provides extra heating when a lot of hot water is being used. Some heaters contain only a lower element. The circuit breaker is an important component for electric water heaters. Always check your circuit breaker first if there is heat loss, before calling a professional for help.
Electrical water heaters that store hot water can be a good match for a smart grid, so that it heats when the electrical grid load is low and turns off when the load is high. This could be implemented by allowing the power supplier to send load-shedding requests, or by the use of real-time energy pricing.
Heat pump water heaters use an air source heat pump to transfer thermal energy from the air around the unit into the water tank. Electric resistance element(s) are typically included to provide backup heating if the heat pump cannot provide sufficient heating capacity.
Comparisons
Like their gas counterparts, traditional electric water heaters have a large tank and a heating mechanism that converts cold water into hot water. The water is ready for use anytime you turn on the hot water faucet. Electric water heating relies on a constant power source, so if you are having trouble, check your circuit breaker or electrical panel before you call us for service.
According to the Energy Rates website, natural gas is usually less expensive than electricity. Deciding between an electric vs. gas water heater is more a question of economics than preference. Bob Vila says that while electric water heaters may cost more to run than gas-powered water heaters, they're less expensive to purchase and install because they do not require the complicated gas hookup, installation fees, and open flame heating mechanism of a gas water heater.
Call For Service
If you need a licensed technician to fix your hot water heater, we'll be happy to take care of any water heater repairs you need. With our labor warranty, you are assured of quality service by professional plumbers.