Water Heater Buying Guide - 2023

Whenever winter comes, there is a need for hot water arises in our houses. In most areas of India, hot water becomes essential during winter, and water heaters have proved to be the most viable solution to ensure a continuous hot water supply. However, we all need a good quality water heater for our home for bathing and other work. There are several options available on the market for different types of water heaters, including solar, storage, and immediate geysers.

Although, if you want to buy a water heater for your home, check out this water heater buying guide; we have mentioned essential factors and features you need to check before buying a geyser.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Water Heater/ Geyser

Here's a compilation of everything you should know before purchasing a water heater.

Type of Water Heater or Geyser:

There are several available options for you to choose from. You can buy a suitable water heater depending on your needs and convenience.

Storage Tank Water Heater:

Storage water heaters are the most basic and classic type of water heater. They are extensively used in many houses for domestic purposes. It is called a storage water heater because of the storage tank installed into the geyser. It can store hot water for a long time, even without electricity, thus allowing it to be used when required.

The Heating cost is a bit high as the entire tank is heated and used at once. Its capacity can be anywhere between 3 to 30 liters.

Tankless (On-Demand) Water Heater: Tankless water heaters, also known as Demand-type or instant water heaters, provide hot water only as required. They do not produce the standby energy losses related to storage water heaters, which can save money.

However, tankless water heaters heat water instantly with a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water passes through a heat exchanger in the unit, and either an electric element or a natural gas burner heats the water. Thus, tankless water geysers provide a constant supply of hot water. You do not need to wait for the storage tank to fill with enough hot water.

Heat Pump (Hybrid) Water Heater:

Many households with heat pumps use them to heat and cool their houses. However, a heat pump can also be used to heat water.

Heat pump water geysers use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Hence, they can be more energy efficient than traditional electric resistance water heaters.

Solar Water Heater: Solar water heaters are another alternative to electric water heaters. It is available in a roof-mounted cell that absorbs the sun's heat and transfers it to an antifreeze-like fluid that ultimately helps heat a water tank in a closed-loop system.

However, you only have to make a one-time investment as it works on solar, and the sunlight is available free of cost to all. All that's required is timely upkeep.

Condensing Water Heater: A condensing water heater provides a ready reservoir of hot water in the same way as a transitional gas water heater but is more efficient because of how heat is transferred from the energy source to the water. A condensing heat exchanger has more surface area than a conventional non-condensing heat exchanger, which enables water condensation from the flue gases. However, more heat is captured throughout this process, greatly enhancing efficiency. Additionally, they have superior insulation, heat exchangers, and more efficient burners.

Moreover, condensing water heater is an option if you heat with gas and need a unit with a capacity greater than 200 liters.

Household Size and Water Usage:

The right size of water geyser will depend on your family and how much hot water they use. An electric or instant water geyser will work well for a small family (around 1 or 2 people). And it may be preferable to use gas systems (instant water heater or storage) for a medium-sized family (4 to 5 People).

Moreover, for a big family (6 people or more), multiple instant water heaters may be an option; gas storage units may be more cost-effective but are equally dangerous due to the production of carbon monoxide in the closed bathrooms.

Consider Capacity:

The tank water heater has a water capacity of 60, 70, and 80 gallons or more. However, it is necessary to choose according to the size of the family and the use of hot water. Moreover, the price of a water heater can vary depending on the capacity. For example, a family of six might use up to 120 gallons of hot water daily, take multiple showers, run the dishwasher, and do a few loads of laundry. But that does not mean the home needs a 120-gallon storage tank.

In addition, you can also choose an instant water geyser that provides instant hot water, but it is only suitable for bachelors and couples.

Energy Efficiency or Star Ratings of an Electric Water Heater:

Energy efficiency is another important factor in choosing the best water heater for your home. This is because, at the month's end, the electricity consumption bill will be commensurate with the number of units you have consumed while using the water heater.

Hence, it is essential to check the product’s rating and always choose a five-star rating geyser, which helps reduce your bills with low power consumption. Higher-rated water geysers are more energy efficient than lower-rated water heaters; however, the value may vary, and it is always suggested to buy 4 or 5-star water heaters which consume less energy.   

Space Matters:

A traditional water heater is large and may occupy a significant amount of space in your house. A tankless water heater, on the other hand, is small and occupies a lot less room than a conventional tank water heater. So, it all depends on you which water heater can fulfil your requirements for hot water.

Longevity:

Water quality varies from region to region across India. Water quality in some areas may be scaling up faster than in others. Scaling inevitably damages the heating elements of the water heater.

Hence, it is advised to keep this in mind and buy water heaters with anti-scaling and anti-corrosion features that help increase the geyser's shelf life and reduce the chances of frequent repairs and replacement.

Therefore, choose a water geyser that comes with anti-corrosion properties, like a titanium or glass-lined tank, which is much better in quality and lasts longer to bathe you with hot fresh water always.

Important Features to Consider:

●       Warranty: Warranty is an essential feature when selecting a water heater (Water Geyser) for daily use. Most water heaters weigh a lot and need regular maintenance to function correctly. Therefore, buying a water heater with a good warranty is always a worthwhile investment.

●       Anti-scale Devices: Many brand show features that agitate the water to reduce mineral scale build-up on the bottom of the tank. Although scale can reduce the life of the heating element, you only need to spend a little money on fancy features to get a long-lasting water heater. Just look for one with a 10-year warranty, which usually has longer and thicker heating elements.

●       Brass vs. Plastic Drain Valves: These are located near the water heater's base, relieving the pressure inside the tank. However, if you use plastic drain valves, they might break off if they are old and brittle from heat, and breaking is always a risk anyway. Hence, you prefer full brass drain valves, which are more durable than plastic ones.

●       After Sales Service: A water geyser is a sensitive appliance that requires extra care and frequent maintenance. Hence, having a water heater with after-sales service support is a must if you face any issues with the functioning of the heater.

●       Glass-lined Tanks: Glass-Fused-to-Steel (Glass-Lined-Tanks) is a unique tank finish. The two materials are combined to achieve the best of both - the strength and ductility of steel combined with the corrosion resistance of glass.

      In simple terms - These are designed to reduce corrosion.

●       Digital Displays: A digital display helps monitor levels and optimize operations. It also gives you a clear view of the temperature you have selected.

Moreover, some electric and hybrid water geysers allow you to set a vacation mode that uses the heat pump for added efficiency when you are away from home. Displays on solar water geysers show collector and tank temperatures, pressure readings, and other data.

Top Water Heater Brands

Below are listed the top geyser brands in India that are the best and most reliable.

●   Sunflame

●   Greenchef

●   Whirlpool

●   Wonderchef

●   Bajaj

●   Haier

●   Livguard

●   Panasonic

●   AO Smith

●   Kenstar

●   Morphy Richards

●   Orient

●   Usha

●   LG

●   Glen

●   Hindware

●   Havells

●   Faber