Your Guide to Water Heater Efficiency Ratings

These metrics help you find a hot water system that saves you money.

When did you last replace your home’s water heater? If it was before 2017, then you might not be aware that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has introduced a more streamlined system that makes it easier to compare the efficiency of different kinds and different brands of hot water systems.

When you consider that the average American home uses about one-fifth of its annual energy to heat up water, you can see one crucial reason that a trustworthy efficiency metric is so important. Additionally, your quality of life diminishes quickly if you don’t have access to hot water for showers, washing dishes and clothes and cleaning your spaces.

At TF Complete Heating & Cooling, we install traditional, tankless and indirect-fired water heaters in Norfolk, Medfield and other cities and towns in our Massachusetts service area. We are here to help you understand today’s water heater efficiency ratings.

What is the current water heater efficiency rating standard?

The newest standard introduced by the DOE is called the Uniform Energy Factor or UEF. This metric tells you the overall efficiency of a water heater — how much of the energy it uses to power itself and heat water, accounting for its intended usage. UEF is expressed as a decimal point and number. The closer the UEF is to one, the more efficient the water heater.

A traditional gas-fired water heater would require a UEF of 0.81 or higher for ENERGY STAR certification, for example, and an on-demand gas water heater needs a UEF of 0.95 for ENERGY STAR certification.

Are there other ratings for water heater efficiency?

There are other useful metrics for water heating products. These ratings can contribute to calculating a system’s overall UEF and include the following:

• FHR or FHD — These ratings stand for First Hour Rating and First Hour Delivery. They measure the amount of hot water a traditional water heater can produce in its first hour. A high-efficiency model with a 40-gallon tank could deliver up to 80 gallons, whereas an 80-gallon tank with less power might not exceed 80 gallons. Additionally, it would produce less in the following hour due to the time needed to reheat the tank.
• GPM — This stands for Gallons Per Minute, and it’s a metric associated with tankless or on-demand water heaters. The GPM rating will tell you how rapidly a unit generates hot water.

Water Heater Solutions from the TF Complete Team

If you are in the market for a high-efficiency water heater that ensures robust hot water for showers, faucets and appliances — all while slashing your home’s energy costs — then look no further than TF Complete Heating & Cooling. We do more water heater installations than just about any other company in your service regions. Our top-tier products include:

• Traditional gas and oil water heaters — Today’s conventional storage tank units are more efficient than ever before.
• Indirect-fired water heaters — Pair this tankless coil with a high-efficiency oil boiler, and you’ll enjoy some of the lowest-cost hot water possible. Install one now, and you can get a lifetime warranty.
• On-demand water heaters — These super-efficient units generate virtually endless hot water right when you need it — and they take up almost no space in your home!

Let’s get started exploring your efficient hot water system options. Contact TF Complete Heating & Cooling for a FREE, no-obligation estimate.