Water heaters account for up to twenty five percent of the utility bills in most homes. They are second only to heating and cooling the home. When purchasing a hot water heater you should be familiar with the way they are rated in terms of their heating rate and energy efficiency. The first-hour-rate (FHR) is the common method of rating hot water heaters and the energy efficiency (EF).

Both of these ratings are used in rating hot water heaters should be understood before buying a hot water heater.

The FHR means the number of gallons of hot water that can be produced in the first hour of heating. The EF or federal energy factor number indicates how efficiently a water heater converts fuel into hot water is also useful information.

To find your specific FHR requirement think about the time of day when your household uses the most hot water. Online calculators and charts can assist you in calculating this number. Then narrow your water heater selection to models with an FHR specification that meets your requirements. Two fifty gallon water heaters may have quite a different FHR rating. Note that water heaters often gain in energy efficiency at the expense of recovery rate, so don't skip this crucial specification.

The higher the EF rating the more efficient the heater will be. The ratings generally range from 0.5 to 2.4. Solar hot water heaters use a rating called the solar fraction, with 0.5 being the requirement for Energy Star certification. When comparing two water heaters that use the same fuel, start by narrowing your choice to the water heaters with an FHR that meets your needs, and then look for the highest EF rating. Note that gas water heaters often use a thermal efficiency specification, the percentage of fuel energy transferred to heating the water.

Purchasing a hot water heater isn’t difficult but you must do your research in order to get a hot water heater that is efficient and meets your needs. Considering the hot water heater rating of both the FHR and ER will lead to money savings in heating your hot water.

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