Hot Water Heater Replacement

In Northwest Arkansas & thinking about replacing your hot water heater? Read on.

Tips for saving money

Despite what service companies try to tell themselves, no one likes to replace their hot water heater. Replacing a water heater is a big investment and it often comes at an unexpected time. That said, it is a purchase that you can save a substantial amount of money on if you play your cards right. Here's a few things you should do in order to save as much money as possible:

1. Get all the utility rebates and tax credits you can. There's a lot of utility and government money out there for water heater replacements. In Northwest Arkansas, SWEPCO alone offers up to $1,000 dollars in rebates for installing a heat pump water heater. The federal government will also chip in up to $2,000 in tax credits depending on what kind of hot water heater you buy. You can read more about available rebates and tax credits here.

2. Get multiple quotes. A lot of people skip this step, but you should always get two or three quotes when replacing a big item like a hot water heater. People understimate how much of a difference in price contractors can charge for the exact same piece of equipment. The more quotes you get, the better you'll feel about your end decision.

Want to schedule a hot water heater replacement quote in Northwest Arkansas? Just tap the "Schedule online" button or text/call us at (479) 282-0003.

Quick summary of the different kinds of hot water heaters

***[Gas] Tank hot water heater: The most common water heater out there. Uses natural gas or propane to keep a tank of water warm. They can be moderately efficient. We recommend them.

[Electric] Tank hot water heater: Less common than gas. Uses electricity to keep a tank of water warm. Costs more to operate than a gas version. We do not recommend them for homes in Northwest Arkansas.

***[Gas] Tankless hot water heater: Becoming more common by the day. Uses natural gas or propane to create hot water when needed. They are efficient, allow for effectively unlimited hot water, and last longer than tank water heaters. We highly recommend them.

[Electric] Tankless hot water heater: Uncommon. Uses electricity to create hot water when needed. Requires a large amount of power. Sometimes requires a new electrical panel. We do not recommend them for homes in Northwest Arkansas.

***[Electric] Heat pump hot water heater: Less common but growing rapidly. Uses heat from the room to heat water inside a tank. The most efficient option. Great for areas without access to natural gas as they are powered by electricity. Eligible for large amounts of utility rebates and federal tax credits. We highly recommend them.

Tankless water heaters vs tank water heaters

There are a few differences between tankless and tank water heaters, but the biggest is this: tankless water heaters make hot water on the spot while tank water heaters generate it continually. As you can imagine, generating it on the spot is much more efficient than keeping a big tank of water hot 24/7. On demand generation also allows tankless water heaters to effectively provide endless hot water. Lastly, tankless water heaters tend to last 15-20 years, versus 8-10 for a conventional tank water heater. Watch this video if you want to learn more.

Benefits of a tankless water heater

Tankless water heaters are an incredible technology. They allow for effectively endless hot water, they are very efficient, and they tend to have lifespans of almost twice that of regular tank water heaters.

How heat pump water heaters work

Heat pump hot water heaters absorb heat from the room they are in and use it to heat water inside a tank. Because of that process, they are two to four times more efficient as normal tank hot water heaters. They also run solely on electricity, which means they are great for areas that don't have access to natural gas.

Water heater replacement timeline

As a general rule, we can usually replace hot water heaters same day. That's not always the case, but generally speaking is true.