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Water Heaters questions, answered by experts

No, boilers and water heaters are not interchangeable because they serve different primary functions. Boilers are used for central heating systems, providing hot water or steam to heat your home. In contrast, a water heater's purpose is to supply hot water for daily household use, such as for faucets and showers. A water heater alone cannot supply the warm water or steam needed for a central heating system.

While they are not interchangeable, it is common to have both a boiler and a water heater. In fact, a conventional boiler often works best when a water heater system is already in place. The two systems can be combined to provide both heating and hot water, either by pairing a boiler with an indirect water heater or by installing a premade combination boiler-water heater unit. For home heating, some homeowners may also opt for a furnace instead of a boiler.

If your water heater is about to celebrate the big 2-0, you may want to consider sending it off to greener pastures. While the water heater may seem to be working well, any conventional, tanked water heater over 10 years of age is at risk of failure. If your water heater is 20 years or older, your best move is to replace your aging heater before it completely breaks down.

You can and should vent the gas from your hot water heater to the outside of your home. Traditionally, these gases were vented back to other gas appliances, like stoves or furnaces, but many jurisdictions have outlawed this practice due to the risks it provides. 

Most water heaters today use atmospheric venting that exhausts the gas out of the home through a pipe.

Every type of water heater has its advantages and disadvantages. Understanding those can help you decide the best type for your situation and budget. 

Pros

  • Safer than gas or propane

  • Doesn’t require extensive venting systems

  • Lower upfront costs

  • Simpler to operate

  • No pilot light

  • Easier installation

  • More efficient heating than gas models

  • Available as point-of-use (POU) and whole-house units

Cons

  • Slower to heat water

  • Longer recovery time

  • Possibly higher operating costs

  • Doesn’t work during a power outage

  • Costs can increase without a 240-volt connection

It takes between one and three hours to replace a hot water heater element, depending on whether you hire a pro or do the work yourself. For example, a professional plumber with all the necessary tools and experience can often finish the job in one to two hours, whereas DIY will take two to three hours because it'll involve more preparation and troubleshooting.

The Outing, MN homeowners’ guide to water heater services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.