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Hot Water Heater Ratings
Hot Water Heaters
Water heaters account for up to twenty five percent of the utility bills in most homes. They are second only to heating and cooling the home. When purchasing a hot water heater you should be familiar with the way they are rated in terms of their heating rate and energy efficiency. The first-hour-rate (FHR) is the common method of rating hot water heaters and the energy efficiency (EF).
Both of these ratings are used in rating hot water
heaters should be understood before buying a hot
water heater.
The FHR means the number of gallons of hot water
that can be produced in the first hour of heating.
The EF or federal energy factor number indicates
how efficiently a water heater converts fuel into
hot water is also useful information.
To find your specific FHR requirement think about
the time of day when your household uses the most
hot water. Online calculators and charts can assist
you in calculating this number. Then narrow your
water heater selection to models with an FHR
specification that meets your requirements. Two
fifty gallon water heaters may have quite a
different FHR rating. Note that water heaters often
gain in energy efficiency at the expense of
recovery rate, so don't skip this crucial
specification.
The higher the EF rating the more efficient the
heater will be. The ratings generally range from
0.5 to 2.4. Solar
hot water heaters use a rating called the solar
fraction, with 0.5 being the requirement for Energy
Star certification. When comparing two water
heaters that use the same fuel, start by narrowing
your choice to the water heaters with an FHR that
meets your needs, and then look for the highest EF
rating. Note that gas water heaters often use a
thermal efficiency specification, the percentage of
fuel energy transferred to heating the water. Purchasing a hot water heater isn’t difficult but you must do your research in order to get a hot water heater that is efficient and meets your needs. Considering the hot water heater rating of both the FHR and ER will lead to money savings in heating your hot water.
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How to Flush a Hot Water Heater
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