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Water heater
A water heater is the appliance that heats and stores hot water for showers, sinks, and appliances.
Why it matters
Water heating is one of the largest energy uses in a home. Efficiency, size, and maintenance affect costs and reliability.
Where people get this wrong
Tank water heaters store hot water. Tankless water heaters heat on demand. Each has trade-offs for cost, output, and installation.
Real-world example
The shower runs out of hot water when two people shower back to back. The tank may be too small for the household's demand.
Where this hits your build
This term shows up during construction and affects decisions that are hard to reverse once the work moves forward. Understanding it now saves time, money, and frustration later.
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