When people think about a water heater, most imagine a hot water gas heater. But this is only one type of heaters currently available on the market. Modern technology offers other varieties such as solar, electric and instant heaters. How does a gas heater stand against the modern heaters? Are there any serious reasons for you to switch to a different type of heater, or is gas still the best?
Other types of water heaters
Hot water gas heater is not your only option. There are several other heaters, you can use where gas supply is not readily available. For example electric water heater is in high demand and many people prefer electric to gas. However, gas water heaters are still the most popular and majority of people who buy heaters, buy gas water heaters.
Instant hot water heaters
A recent invention is a tankless water heater. This type of heater brings you hot water the moment you turn the tap on. As the name suggests tankless heaters have no storage tank for water, they heat it as you use it. They are also called instant heaters. This is very much appreciated by many people more…
Solar energy can solve many energetic problems (to produce electric power with solar panels or, directly, hot water for domestic uses), but NOT ALONE. It must be used together its "sisters": WIND and GEOTHERMIC.
Infact, solar energy is diffuse and abundant, but not easy to concentrate, given that solar panels must cover wide land areas (easy to do it in deserts) to give a high energy contribution. Despite this, solar panels can be installed on the roofs of private or public buildings (houses, industries, hangars, docks, schools, hospitals,…)
Moreover, it can’t be used with efficience in polar and sub-polar regions, where solar light on Earth surface is scarce.
So, just here, is the WIND that can be employed, considering that these cold regions are very windy during all periods of the year. The only problems for eolic generators could be that of a certain manutention against freezing and mechanic stress in the rotating mechanisms, but it’s possible to remedy with a bit of organization.
The 3rd "sister" is GOTHERMIC energy. It exploits the natural heat of hot water or vapour underground sources, heated by volcanic phenomena (presence of magma) active near the water.
Water can be more…
My experiences with solar power outline some of the main disadvantages of this type of energy. I am a true advocate of alternative energy sources and will try anything to do my part towards preserving the environment. My experiences with solar power have not changed my views and will not prevent me from trying other methods but the world needs to understand that there is a price to pay what ever you do. In this article I have outline my own experiences of using solar power rather than looking at global disadvantages.
I have a solar powered hot water system which is becoming very hard to maintain. I live in an area which receives a lot of rain. This rain is hard water with above average calcium deposits. This leaves a white deposit over the actual solar panel. When the panel becomes crusted up there is not enough energy to heat the water. I’m now getting too old to climb on the roof to give it a wipe before it gets to bad. I have to pay someone quite regularly to sort it out for me. It costs me nearly $100 a month to keep this up. The electricity company does more…
