Water Heater Installation in Roswell, NM
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Roswell asks a lot of a water heater over a long winter
Winter nights here average 27°F from December through February, and homes run their heat from October through April, seven months of the year. That's seven months where the water coming into the tank starts out cold, and the heater has to make up more ground before it reaches the tap.
Power doesn't always stay on through a storm. Chaves County has seen 11 winter storms and 108 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and statewide, 13% of households lost power for 24 hours or more in 2024. A gas water heater with a standing pilot keeps making hot water through an outage like that. One with electric ignition or an electric tank won't, though it will start back up on its own once the power does. Whichever type goes in, it has to meet a federal minimum efficiency standard, and that minimum is set by the tank's size and how the household draws hot water, so the right number depends on the heater being installed.
- 27°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 7 months
- October through April, the months homes here need heat
- 13%
- of New Mexico households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A heat pump water heater would save about $230 a year to run in New Mexico compared with an electric water heater.
Estimates for a typical New Mexico home, from EIA household energy data and New Mexico fuel prices. Your home will differ.
- How do I know it's time to replace my water heater?
- The clearest sign is water that comes out lukewarm or runs out fast, especially if that is new. Rust colored water, a tank that is damp or wet around the base, or a popping and rumbling sound when it heats are also signs the tank itself is failing rather than just needing a repair. Most tanks are past their prime once you start seeing more than one of these signs at a time, and at that point replacement makes more sense than another repair. A leaking tank will not get better, it only gets worse and can damage whatever is around it.
- Should I switch to a tankless water heater?
- It depends on what you want out of it, not on any rule that says one type is better. A tankless unit heats water as it flows through rather than storing it, so you do not run out of hot water partway through back to back showers. It also takes up less space and tends to hold up longer than a tank does. Against that, a tankless unit usually costs more upfront and may need changes to your gas line or venting to install, so a contractor needs to look at your setup before you decide.
- What changes when you install a tankless water heater?
- The biggest change is that you stop storing hot water and start heating it on demand, so the unit needs to draw more gas or electricity in short bursts than a tank does. That often means a larger gas line or a dedicated electrical circuit, depending on the type. Venting is different too, since a tankless unit vents differently than a storage tank and may need new venting run to the outside. Where it goes can change as well, since a tankless unit mounts on a wall and does not need the floor space a tank does. A contractor will need to check your gas line, electrical panel, and venting to know what your house specifically needs.