We may need to buy a new water heater for our house.  I see prices that range from app. $279 - $679, and the size isn't necessarily the difference.  I'm mostly concerned about energy efficiency, but I don't see any of them boasting of that...so what do we look for?  Way too many choices!  

when I replaced mine a few years back, I bought one that was medium in the "efficiency" range (the $ numbers on the yellow tag tell the energy usage efficiency).  but what was important to me was the model I bought had dual heating elements in order to provide hot water quickly when in high demand, but being able to "maintain" hot water on only one element.

the 2nd element only comes on when the demand is high.  we've never run out of hot water with this unit, even when we had 4 of us living here taking showers one after the other.

Thanks Reece.  I guess I didn't look closely enough.  I'd like one that can provide hot water quickly...and not keep heating water all day long unnecessarily.  I'm guessing that type must exist. 

Well if it's an electric heater you need, definitely go for one that has two heating elements. In order to save money with my hot water heater, I downsized to a 30 gallon tank from a 40 gallon tank, and I still have plenty of hot water. I also put my tank on a timer that only comes on twice a day for a few hours each time. So my tank is only operating about 8 hours a day, and I was able to set the timer only to come on during peak times. This cut my electric bill down a whole lot, and I still have plenty of hot water when I need it.

You may want to contact your electric company, because sometimes they'll offer to give you free energy saving tank in exchange for your old one.

If you have a truck, you can take the old tank to the scrap yard and get $10-15 bucks for it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Another thing you can do to cut down on your energy use is to adjust the temperature on you hot water tank to around 110 degrees faranhiet. Many people set their tanks at 140 degrees and the water gets scalding hot. You don't need that. Set your temperature setting by testing the water to where it gives you a comfortable shower, not to cold, not too hot, with just the hot water faucet open. Mixing in cold water just wastes energy.

110-115 degrees is the right temperature, don't set it lower as that can cause bacteria to grow in the tank, you don't want that.
 
In a previous life I was a plumber.
 
 
 
 
 
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well, most of the ones I know of don't shut off during "down times' on their own - you'd have to add a timer like wayne mentions.

if they do make them with built in timers or "smart meters" to determine your actual usage and provide hot water during those times then those would most likely be very expensive.  and it takes a good amount of time to heat up 30 or 40 gallons from "room temp" so having it "off" during the night for example you'd still want a couple of hours before showers are needed in order to get it up to the correct temp for being completely off for several hours.

Well first off, the timer I bought I got from Sears for $30 about 18 years ago. Then I had to install it. Yes the water will cool down to warm not hot when the tank is off. I set mine to come on about 6-10 in the morning and then 4-8 in the evening. So I have a nice full tank of hot water when I get up for my shower, and hot water in the evening for dishes, another shower, whatever. I don't need hot water while I'm sleeping so why keep the tank on ?? The water stays warm enough for me thruout the day.

I would say the timer knocked about $20-30 a month off my electric bill. So it was worth it to do it. If it stopped working, I'd definitely get another one.

Janet if you're not simply replacing with in kind and are
considering making a change here are some important
considerations.

• Size
• Fuel type and availability.
• Energy efficiency (energy factor)
• Estimate costs.

Here's a link to a timer like mine, available at lowes for $58......still a bargain...

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=160601-251-WH40DL3&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3125325&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

I am assuming then you guys don't have gas as well as electricity. The ultimate way to go is a gas heater that only turns on when you need the water and it heats it on the go. You never run out then. But this is only good of course where gas is available.