Deciphering the Different Types of Water Heaters

The water heater in your house provides wonderfully warm showers in the morning, hot water to scrub your dishes with, and so many other facets of modern life that sometimes we may take for granted. When searching for an appropriate water tank, however, you have different options. Should you buy a tankless water heater? What fuel source is a better option? And how do you know what size is right for you?

Purchasing a water heater is a choice that does affect your daily life, so it’s good to have a well-rounded base of information before you start your search. Here is some general information about some familiar water heaters:

Tankless Water Heaters

These efficient machines give out hot water on demand. Since they don’t need a storage tank, and the water is not heated and stored, but is heated only when it is required. This means no more waiting for the tank to fill before you can take a shower.

However, this mechanism does decrease the flow rate to about 3.5 gallons per minute. Running hot water from multiple places at the same time might mean somebody’s shower isn’t going to be quite so warm, if you are washing a load of dishes as well as running laundry.

However, if your family does not have a high hot water usage, or you don’t tend to run multiple hot water appliances simultaneously, a tankless water heater is significantly more efficient.

Natural Gas Water Heaters

Natural gas is a very common option. It can be used in conjunction with multiple designs of water heaters, whether those which use a storag Keep Hot Water Heaters away from Combustable materials e tank or tankless.

It has been noted that natural gas heaters are in general less energy efficient than their electric counterparts, although the cost to run them is typically much less as a result of the comparably higher price of electricity. However, this type of unit will be more expensive upon purchase.

Electric Water Heaters

Electric water heaters use domestic power to heat resistance coils in the unit and thus heat your water. If your family is large, this option will have a harder time keeping up with your usage of water with higher temperatures. Also, the recovery rate is slower than a natural gas heater.

However, benefits to the electric heater include a lower installation cost, ability to be integrated into tight spaces, and the possibility of installing a money-saving timer.

Choosing the Best Size

Size is also an issue when choosing a water heater. A factor that may sway your decision is how many gallons of hot water you use daily. Also, consider the space where you want to install it. A smaller unit may hold up to 40 gallons and fit into a cabinet or crawl space, while a larger tank may hold 100 gallons but will only be able to be placed in a basement or garage.

Really, the decision of which type of heater to choose is yours to make. Use this information to guide you in the information making process and choose a water heater that is best for you.

Maintenance Tips For Safety & Energy Conservation

How to Keep Your Water Heater Running Smoothly

The lifespan of your water heater is dependent on how well you take care of it. It is all too easy to forget about it, but that won’t last long when you start to have issues with your hot water. It’s imperative that you take the time to care for your water heater before you start to run into problems. That way, you’ll be able to rest assured knowing that your shower isn’t going to turn cold right in the middle.

What are some simple ways to keep your water heater healthy and happy?

Keep the Area Clear

Water heaters are usually installed in areas that also collect a lot of clutter, such as basements or garages. However, it is very important that you keep that clutter away from the heater. Why?

Gas water heaters require oxygen to burn gas. Thus, a crowded space will decrease efficiency and could also cause significant damage to its parts. At the very worst, this issue could actually cause carbon monoxide leaks which pose a huge threat to your family
This may be slightly obvious, but as your water heater gets hot, objects that are too close could lead to fires.

So how much space does it need? Well, a general rule would be to keep surrounding objects at a distance of two feet, but check the heater’s manual to see if your unit is different.

Drain 1-3 Times a Year

Draining out a few gallons of water will allow you to get rid of debris or sediment that has built up over time. You can do this by turning off the supply of water, connecting a garden hose to the drain and then running the water into a bucket. Repeat this process until the water comes out clear, although at times this may mean that you need to drain the entire tank.

This should be done at the very least once a year, although it is recommended to do so up to 3 or 4 times during the year. Doing so will cause the heater to run quieter.

Give Your Heater a Vacation When You Get One

Most water tanks will have a setting that says ‘vacation’. If you’re looking to save energy while you’re away, this is a great little option. When imputing the ‘vacation’ setting, you are thus leaving the pilot light on but the heater will not actually heat up the water. Your unit gets to take a break while you’re not in the house.

Save Energy by Adjusting the Thermostat

Amazingly enough, it has been said that when you lower the thermostat by 10 degrees, you can save up to 5% on the costs of running your heater! Imagine that! Simply decrease the temperature and enjoy the lower bills at the end of the month.

Adjusting water heater thermostat

Inspect Every Year

Giving your water heater a yearly inspection is a good idea to make sure there are no leaks in the tank or corrosion on the gas line and pipes. If there is a scent of gas near the heater, turn it off immediately and call a professional.

Plumber Gives Water heater a positive inspection

With just these few tips, you can ensure a long and happy life for your water heater. Now some will scoff at these suggestions. They are either too simple making a mountain of a mole hill. We understand that, must insist that while simple these suggestions are well worth heeding. See here for a post we did highlighting three accidents that occurred in a single week not that long ago. http://hotwaterheater.today/index.php/2016/07/11/hot-water-heaters-are-safe-but-not-without-risks/

Hot Water Heaters are Safe but Not Without Risks.

Proper Installation and Maintenance Key to Safety

Generally water heaters are pretty safe, whether fueled by gas, propane or electricity. That said, they are not without risks, which is why proper installation is imperative. And while many municipalities permit do it yourselfers to install water heaters, its best to leave that task to pro’s unless you really know what you are doing.

Here are a couple of recent mishaps to accentuate the point.

Two injured in explosion in Harvey County house

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. (KWCH) Two people were injured in a Harvey County home explosion Tuesday night in the 5700 block of N. Halstead Road, north of Halstead and just southwest of Hesston.

Officials say the source of the explosion was a hot water heater. The hot water heater was on the first floor of the home. A husband and wife were home when the explosion occurred and both were transported from the scene by ambulance. The woman remained in critical condition Wednesday night. Her husband was listed in fair condition. Via kwch.com

Hot water heater explosion suspected in Richmond apartment fire | WTVR.com

RICHMOND, Va. – A malfunctioning hot water heater is the suspect in an apartment fire that erupted just before noon in Richmond, according to officials.

Firefighters arrived in the 900 block of St. John’s Wood Drive to find smoke coming from two-story apartment.

It is possible the hot water heater exploded, officials said. The incident is still under investigation. Via wtvr.com

Water heater explosion burns Allegan County house down, says fire chief | MLive.com

VALLEY TOWNSHIP, MI — An Allegan County home is a total loss after a hot water heater explosion sparked a devastating fire and partial roof collapse, say officials.

The three people in the house escaped without injury, he said. The American Red Cross was on scene Sunday morning to help the displaced residents.

He estimated the house to be roughly 1,700 square feet. The home’s hot water heater was replaced earlier in the day, he said. “For some unknown reason, it exploded.” The fire then spread through the house. Via mlive.com

Plumber explains what to look out for on hot water heater after explosion near Halstead

A woman remains in critical condition, after being hurt in a hot water heater explosion.

“Most times water heaters are extremely safe, but you do have times when they are not,” said J Loibl, a plumber with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.

Loibl explains whether you have a natural gas or propane water heater.

Don’t panic, he said there are several things a homeowner can do to prevent a leak from causing an explosion. read more at kwch.com

We share these stories not to alarm, but to stress the point, that household appliances can carry a level of risk. This risk is lessened by being sure your appliances are installed by competent personnel. There after, it is important to understand some basics, such as making sure your pilot light is operating properly.

And if you every suspect something may be wrong, it pays to call a professional to check your equipment. It is far better to spend a few dollars unnecessarily than to live or not live through an explosion and/or fire.