ENERGY SENSE Consider tank of electric water heater

Q. I replaced the electric water heater once already and this oneis leaking after only eight years. Are there any water heaters thatlast longer, provide more hot water for showers and use lesselectricity?

A. There are some new conventional electric water heaters withlifetime warranties against the water tank rusting out and leaking.

Others use an all-polymer (plastic) design, which cannot rust outbecause there is no steel in the tank, so they are guaranteed tonever become leaky.

When purchasing an electric water heater, consider the tankwarranty. The least expensive models will offer a six-year warranty.More expensive, top-of-the-line models often offer a 10- …