Jim Connors: Hi! my name is Jim Connors and I am with the Rheem Manufacturing Company. Today, I am at BGE Home and I am going to show you how to select the right water heating technology for your family. I'll discuss how to select the right storage water heater, tankless water heater or solar water heater. Before we begin, remember to always consult your product owner's manual and take proper safety precautions when working on or around your water heater. Also consider consulting a plumbing professional or contractor before taking on any project. Most homes have a storage type water heater. Storage water heaters use electricity or gas to heat the water and are economical to purchase and install. It typically keeps 40 to 50 gallons of hot water ready for use and will usually last 10 to 15 years. Tankless water heaters offer high energy efficiency and provide an unlimited supply of hot water. Tankless water heaters don't maintain the supply of hot water but heat the water only on demand. Its compact size means it can be installed close to fixtures that use the most hot water. Some tankless models are designed to be installed outdoors, installing the water heater outdoors can free up valuable living space inside the home. Tankless water heaters can last up to 20 years. Check with your tax advisor for energy tax credits and other state and local incentives that might be available for your tankless water heater. For those of you, who are committed to reducing your carbon footprint, solar water heating is an excellent option. Depending on where you live, more than half of your hot water can be produced by the solar panels. These panels are typically attached to your roof and work in conjunction with the storage tank. While the investment in solar is comparatively high, it often qualifies for generous tax credits plus other local incentives and rebates and may last longer than other water heating technologies.

Rheem is one of the world's leading providers of water heating and HVAC equipment. Before we begin, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I have been in the water heating industry for about 18 years and I have worked for Rheem in many capacities. Currently, I am a National Account Manager for Rheem, but I have also been involved in product development of both tank-type and tankless water heaters. So let's get started selecting the right water heating technology for your home.