We are all concerned about the high cost of heating our home, but heating hot water is often an area we overlook. In some homes, heating hot water can be even higher that the cost of heating a home.

Today, there are a large number of options a home owner has to create hot water. Some are relatively inexpensive to put in, but expensive to operate. Others are expensive to install, but very inexpensive to operate.

New products today are many but what is the right product for your home? Solar with a back up can be the cheapest to operate and an old tankless coil in your boiler can be the most expensive. Rebates from Efficiency Maine, when available, along with federal tax credits allow for many more options to save money.

To make the right decision, you first need to know what your actual hot water needs are. Typically, one can figure 20 gallons of hot water per day per person. This varies greatly among families, but it is a starting point to properly size a family’s demand needs.

Other factors are the age and condition of current heating equipment. Having one source of fuel and one appliance to service can reduce the life cycle cost of the appliance and maybe a factor in your decision.

Town water versus well water is also a factor in choosing the right appliance for you.

Location of the hot water heating appliance can also weigh in on the type of water heating appliance that is best for you.

Heat pump water heaters, propane tankless water heaters, solar and indirect — both oil and gas — can greatly improve and reduce your hot water heating cost while giving you all the hot water that is needed. 

When Community Energy is asked by a customer what is best for them, we look at all the considerations before we pick a product to make sure that it will give you what you are looking for.

Just because it may be the best performer for one family, it may not be best for yours. Investment in a new hot water heater is not cheap and we are always willing to help you make the right choice.

For more information, contact Roger Arsenault, Community Energy Co., at 207-357-3719.