Electric Water Heater Ratings
Hot water use makes up a good percentage of utility costs. In fact, heating and cooling a home are the only other things that use more energy. Therefore, it is important to choose carefully when you are in the market for a new water heater.
Buying the cheapest one won’t necessarily save you any money simply because it could cost more each month than a water heater that costs more initially but is cheaper to use. Since most water heaters last for several years, it is a good idea to consider the long-term investment ramifications when choosing this particular appliance.
Electric water heater ratings are one of the specifications consumers should pay close attention to when selecting a model to purchase. These ratings provide the information you need to make a wise decision. In fact, the federal government mandates manufactures to display the EnergyGuide sticker on water heaters and other appliances. This information helps consumers to compare water heaters by providing the approximate energy use as well as the approximate amount of money it will cost to operate the water heater each year.
One of the ratings you will find on the EnergyGuide sticker is the Energy Factor (EF). The higher the EF number, the more efficient the water heater is, which will result in energy savings. Even when shopping online, consumers have access to the EF and other information displayed on the energy guide. By paying attention to electric water heater ratings, consumers can ensure they save the most amount of money possible.
For example, the PowerStar Whole House Electric Tankless Water Heater by Bosch has an EF of 90%. When shopping, you might see this rating displayed as EF .90. Some manufactures display the number as a decimal and others display it as a percentage, but it means the same thing. The energy savings chart states that this particular model costs about $478 per year to operate.
Another example is the GE 40 Gallon Electric Water Heater with an EF of 92% and an annual operating cost of $508. What you will want to do when comparing water heaters, though, is compare the ratings of similar water heaters.
