Water Heater Installation in Bremerton, WA
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Ten months of work a year for your water heater
Homes here need heat from September through June, ten months a year, and your water heater is working the same months as the furnace. Groundwater coming into the tank is cold to begin with, and on winter nights that average 35°F it starts even colder. The burner or element has to work harder to bring it up to temperature before it ever reaches the tap.
The water heater you install also has to meet a federal efficiency minimum, and that minimum is not one number. It is set by a formula based on the tank's rated volume, applied separately across four draw patterns, so two tanks of different sizes can face different minimums even in the same product line. Whoever installs your unit needs to size it to your household and match it to the right standard, not just swap in whatever is on the truck.
- 35°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 10 months
- September through June, the months homes here need heat
- 23%
- of Washington households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A heat pump water heater would save about $280 a year to run in Washington compared with an electric water heater.
Estimates for a typical Washington home, from EIA household energy data and Washington fuel prices. Your home will differ.
- How do I know it's time to replace my water heater?
- Look at the tank first. Rust colored water from the hot tap, a tank that's rusting on the outside, or water pooling underneath are signs the tank itself is failing, and a tank cannot be repaired. If it's still making hot water but running out faster than it used to, or making popping and rumbling noises, sediment has likely built up in the bottom, and that gets worse over time, not better. Once the tank is leaking or rusted through, replacement is the only option.
- Should I switch to a tankless water heater?
- It depends on what you want out of it, not on your current heater being old or broken. A tankless unit heats water as it flows through rather than storing it, so you get continuous hot water instead of running out after a long shower or back to back loads of laundry. It also takes up much less space than a tank. Switching usually means changes to the gas line, venting, or electrical setup depending on the unit, so a contractor needs to look at your home's setup to know what that involves.
- What changes when you install a tankless water heater?
- The unit itself is much smaller and mounts to a wall instead of sitting on the floor, so where it goes in your home usually changes. Because it heats water on demand instead of storing it, it often needs a larger gas line or a dedicated electrical circuit to supply enough power for that burst of heating. The venting is different too, since tankless units vent differently than a storage tank does. A contractor can look at your gas line, electrical panel, and where the unit would go to tell you what your home specifically needs.