The average U.S. household uses almost one-fifth of its energy heating water. That’s not especially shocking when you consider that the average American family consumes roughly 65 gallons of hot water each day.
It only stands to reason that you’d want the most efficient water heater available to keep your hot water expenses down. Luckily, there’s a convenient rating system to measure efficiency in traditional and tankless water heaters.
The rating for a water heater’s energy efficiency is called uniform energy factor, or UEF. This metric tells how much energy your water heater uses to power itself and heat water. This is a relatively new rating system. It went into place in 2017 and replaced a less precise metric called High Efficiency ratings.
The higher the UEF rating for your water heater, the more efficient it is. For example, ENERGY STAR certifications for gas-fired storage water heaters require a UEF of 0.81 or 0.86, depending on the product. Tankless gas water heaters need a UEF of 0.95 for ENERGY STAR certification.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) assigns a water heating product a category based on its intended use. Within this category, the unit’s performance in generating hot water is evaluated. If your water heater was manufactured after 2017, look for a yellow label on it that will contain information related to its efficiency evaluation. This information includes:
The label will also tell you your unit’s usage category (or BIN) and its capacity. If you look up the model number of your water heater, you can find its UEF.
How old is the water heater in your home? If it’s over a decade old, you should probably consider replacing it, and TF Complete Heating & Cooling can help you choose an efficient water heater replacement that provides longer showers and smaller energy bills.
We install high-efficiency tankless water heaters that generate virtually unlimited hot water on demand and save you money by preventing the standby losses created by constantly reheating a storage tank of water. Tankless systems also have longer service lives than traditional water heaters.
And if that’s not reason enough to want to upgrade, you may be eligible for generous rebates from Mass Save. Our team will help you qualify!
In Bristol, Middlesex and Norfolk counties, TF Complete Heating & Cooling is the most trusted home comfort partner. Reach out to us for a free estimate on new equipment.
Contact us today to schedule a routine maintenance visit. If you need an emergency repair, please call our office right away at 508-507-6702, and we will get to your home as soon as we can.