Water Heater Installation in Oak Harbor, WA
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Oak Harbor asks a water heater to run nearly year round
Homes here need heat from September through June, so the water heater is working most of the year, not just in a short stretch of summer. Winter nights averaging 35°F mean the incoming water is colder for longer, and the tank has to make up more of that difference itself.
The federal minimum efficiency for a new storage water heater depends on its size. It is not one number for every tank. A larger tank and a smaller one are held to different minimums, so the right efficiency figure for a replacement depends on the gallon size going in, not just the type of unit.
- 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 how it's failing, not just how old it is. Rust-colored water, a tank rusting on the outside, or water pooling underneath mean the tank itself is going, and a leaking tank can't be repaired. If it's still making hot water but running out faster than it used to, or making popping or rumbling noises, sediment has likely built up inside and the unit is working harder to do the same job. A contractor can tell you whether what you're seeing is normal wear or the tank giving out.
- Should I switch to a tankless water heater?
- It depends on what you want from it, not on one being better than the other. A tankless unit heats water on demand, so you don't run out during a long shower or back-to-back loads of laundry, and it isn't keeping a tank of water hot all day waiting to be used. It usually costs more to install, and if your gas line, venting, or electrical don't already meet what the unit needs, that adds work. A storage tank costs less upfront and is a simpler swap if your current setup already fits one. A contractor can look at your gas line, venting, and hot water use and tell you which one actually fits your house.
- What changes when you install a tankless water heater?
- The biggest change is that hot water gets made as you use it instead of stored ahead of time, so there's no tank sitting full of hot water waiting. That means no more running out partway through a shower, but it also means the unit needs enough gas supply or electrical capacity to heat water fast, which your existing lines may or may not have. Venting is different too. Tankless units often need a different vent type than a tank did, so the venting sometimes has to change even if the new unit goes in the same spot. A contractor checking the gas line, electrical, and venting ahead of time will tell you what has to change in your house.