Just like any other investment, you need to ensure that you purchase the right water heater for your business.
For businesses such as restaurants, the importance of a high-quality water heater cannot be overemphasized.
As such, you should ensure that you conduct proper research in order to ensure get the right appliance. Modern and efficient water heaters will cost you a good amount of money and that’s the reason why you should exercise extra caution when going to purchase it.
There are several factors that business owners should always consider before purchasing a restaurant water heater. The problem is that sometimes we make hurried decisions and start to regret later.
Below are some of the factors to consider when selecting a commercial water heater:
1. Type of the commercial water heater
There are a number of commercial water heaters available in the market. Before you decide which one to buy, it is important to understand each one of them together with their merits and demerits.
Here are the common types available:
- Electric water heaters: electric water heaters are popular because they are able to heat water and retain the temperatures at a pre-set state.
- Gas heater: these are water heaters fueled by either propane or natural gas used to heat the water. They require a lot of care and maintenance
- Oil-Fired water heaters: they are ideal for mid-size commercial restaurants. Their storage capacity ranges from 30 to 270 gallons
2. Storage capacity
This is another important factor to consider when selecting a restaurant heater. Storage here referrers to the amount of water that a water heater container can hold.
It is important to note that there are heaters that are tankless – you, therefore, have to decide which one is best suited for your business.
If for example, you are operating a big restaurant, you will definitely need a water tank heater that can accommodate the demands of your business. You won’t have to look for other alternatives when you can solve the problem with a single water heater.
3. Size of the unit
The size of the water heater should also be a factor to be considered. What are the heating needs of your restaurant? How about the size of your business? It is obvious that you will prefer a bigger and powerful water heater if your business is large.
You also have to assess the needs of a business. For instance, how often do you need to heat water? Think about all these questions before making the final decision.
4. Energy efficiency
As a business person, you should always be keen on cutting expenses by all means. This is because failure to minimize expenses will definitely eat on your profits and sometimes make the business unprofitable.
This also applies when it comes to choosing a restaurant water heater. Ensure that you conduct thorough research on commercial water heaters that are energy efficient. Although you might spend a little more on an energy-efficient heater, you will save a lot in the long run.
5. Cost of installation
The cost of installation is also a major factor to look at when buying a commercial water heater. Various water heater models are installed differently. There are those that are easy to install whereas others have a complex installation process.
Before making that order, ensure that you find out from the dealer or seller about the installation process. Who is going to install it? How long will it take? How much will it cost? Answers to these questions will help you to make a financially sound decision.
6. Fuel type for the water heater
There’s no doubt that propane, oil, and natural gas water heaters are less costly compared to the electric ones. They are also easy to operate and maintain.
If you decide to go this route, ensure that the type of oil used by the water heater is easily available. Otherwise an electric water heater is the most appropriate form most restaurant businesses.
Bottom Line
The main objective of every business is to minimize expenses as much as possible and maximize profits. One way of doing that is choosing a commercial water heater that’s energy-efficient and serves the needs of your restaurant business.
