Key factors to consider when buying a storage electric water heater

The mere thought of cold morning showers in the winter season is more than enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine. Leave aside bathing, just imagine using freezing cold water for washing dishes, doing laundry and other regular household chores. Feeling the chill already? Trust me, there is nothing more comforting than having hot water at your disposal at all times during the winters, which makes water heaters a must-have in Indian setting.

Since a water heater is a low involvement product with its usage limited to winters only, consumer involvement in the buying decision is quite low. People usually opt for popular, familiar and long-established brands when it comes to buying a geyser. Some homeowners also consult electricians and plumbers to come to a decision.

Buying a water heater can be an overwhelming experience, therefore, you must consider a few important things so that you do not end up buying one that doesn’t meet your requirements. Let’s check them out.

Consider capacity first

Before you start scouring the market, you first need to decide on the capacity of the water heater as per your hot water needs. Whether you live in a nuclear family or an extended one plays a decisive role as it directly translates to how much hot water you will need on day-to-day basis. While a small capacity geyser will be just fine for your hot water needs in the kitchen, you will need a water heater with larger capacity in the bathroom.

Let’s take an example here. Suppose there are four members in a family who use one 15-litre bucket of water each for bathing. People usually mix hot water with cold water to get the right water temperature for a relaxing bath. In this case, if each family member is using about half a bucket of hot water for the bath, a water heater with 25-litre tank capacity would do just fine given that they are taking bath one after another.

One should also keep the climatic conditions in mind when choosing a water heater. If you happen to live in an area that experiences extreme cold winters, it is advisable to opt for a large capacity electric heater in order to have more hot water supply at your disposal.

Energy consumption

As part of the Energy Star programme, BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) rates electric water heaters on a scale on 1-5. More the number of stars, more is the energy efficiency of a water heater. In case of water heaters, wattage is not the right thing to consider while evaluating energy consumption. Instead, what’s important to consider is the amount of hot water used and the standing losses (heat loss through the sides, bottom and top). How much time a water heater takes to raise the water temperature by certain degrees is also an important factor.

For a water heater to be highly energy efficient, the heat produced by the heating element must stay inside the tank for a longer period. It is the poor insulation between the tank and the outer body of a water heater which usually results in higher energy consumption. Therefore, one should makes sure that insulation material used in the water heater is of high quality.

Here are some quick tips to save on water heating costs.

Think about the tank and heating element

One of the most important thing to look for in an electric storage water heater is its tank which comes in direct contact of the water. If you have hard water in your home, the water heater tank will be more prone to corrosion and scaling. Hard water is high on mineral content, usually calcium and magnesium, which causes the inner tank to corrode faster. Therefore, one should check the quality of the tank when buying a water heater and ensure that it is made of anti-corrosive material. Equally important is to check if the heating element used inside the water heater is resistant to corrosion.

Are you living in a high-rise apartment?

High water pressure, which is common in high-rise buildings, could damage the inner tank of a water heater and cause leakage problem. If you live in a high-rise apartment, it’s important to make sure that the water heater has a high pressure bearing tank. Designed to suit varying water conditions and withstand a high pressure of 8 bars, Orient Electric Enamour water heater is ideal for use in high-rise buildings.

Safety Features

For sure, prevention is better than cure. While we do not hear about the accidents with water heaters that often, one must not forget to check the safety features such as pressure release valve, vacuum release valve, thermal protection etc.

Warranty & After Sales Service

It is always good to opt for a reputed brand when buying a water heater in order to enjoy the ultimate peace of mind with respect to installation, warranty and after sales service. After all, you would not want to spend year after year on maintenance and repairs.

If you are on the hunt for a stylish, energy efficient water heater, you might want to consider Orient Electric’s 5-star rated Enamour Glassline water heater featuring the Whirlflow technology which ensures 20% more hot water supply in comparison to its counterparts. It features high quality glass enamel lining in the tank to prevent scaling and corrosion thereby prolonging product lifespan.

Enamour water heater (15 Lts. & 25 Lts.) features oxidation and carbonization-resistant Incoloy 840 enamelled heating element which ensures superior heating every time. The magnesium anode rod used in the unit is 27% thicker than other models of same capacity. Other salient features include multifunctional safety valve with pressure & vacuum release function, digital temperature display, auto timer, winter-summer mode, and overheat protection.