Is It Time to Replace Your Water Heater?

October 8th, 2017 Posted in Water Heaters
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Water heaters can last over a decade, some lasting twenty years or more with good maintenance. It is easy to neglect your water heater and forget that these appliances do need replacement. If you have had your water heater for ten years or more, it is time to start considering replacing your unit before you wake up one morning to a cold shower. Some early signs that your water heater is reaching the end of its life can include:

  • Shorter periods of hot water
  • Water not getting as hot
  • Increased noise from the unit
  • Leaking

While these can also be signs that your water heater needs repair, if it is over ten years old, repairing may be a waste of money. Putting a bandage on an appliance that has already reached the average lifespan may only keep it running for a few more months. Instead, these indications are a sign that it is time to start considering investing in a new water heater.

There are many options when it comes to replacing your water heater. Tank water heaters come in electric and gas models, with various sizes. If running out of hot water has always been a problem, considering getting a larger tank or opting for a tankless model. Tankless or on-demand water heaters are compact, without a tank, and heat water as you need it. This ensures you always have hot water and these models can save quite a bit on your energy bills.

If your water heater is nearing the end of its life, talk to your local plumber about replacement. Ask about upgrading to a tankless model for your home or other options before your old unit finally quits.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(404) 973-2471

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Is a New Water Heater in Your Future?

June 27th, 2016 Posted in Water Heaters
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Have you been considering replacing your water heater? Chances are, if it is still working, it is the last thing on your mind. Most homeowners are not concerned with their water heaters age or performance; that is, until they come home to a flooded home or step into a cold shower. Water heaters tend to last close to ten years, sometimes less, sometimes more. If your water heater is close to ten years old, you should be considering replacing it before it goes out.

There are a few good reasons to be proactive when it comes to replacing your water heater. One reason is efficiency. Many of the older models are extremely inefficient when it comes to energy use. You may be spending much more on your water heating costs than necessary. A new water heater can save you money, paying for itself in energy savings over time.

Another good reason to replace an old tank water heater is the possibility of leaks. It is common for these old tanks to rust and spring leaks. In a matter of a few hours or less, your home could be flooded with hundreds of gallons of water. Then, you will not only need to replace your water heater, you will need to repair water damage to your home and could possibly be facing mold issues.

One of the best options for new water heaters is a new tankless model. These new water heaters can save you up to 50% off your water heating bill, take very little space and eliminate the worry of a tank leak. Call your local plumber to find out more about the benefits of proactively replacing your old tank with a new tankless water heater.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

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Don’t Put Off Replacing Your Old Water Heater

March 13th, 2016 Posted in Water Heaters
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Water heaters are the unsung heroes of most homes. For years they provide hot water for showers, cleaning and bath-time, yet many never even receive regular maintenance. Most water heaters can last up to ten years, more if they are serviced annually as suggested. But like all equipment, eventually these large tanks will be ready to be replaced. If you wait too long, you may be saddled with large costs from the damage that can occur when a water heater finally gives out.

When a water heater is several years old and has not been maintained, there is a good chance it has collected minerals and lime inside the tank. This accumulation can cause rust and corrosion of the tank from the inside out. While regular maintenance can slow this process, it will still happen over time and can lead to a water leak in the tank. This is the end of the water heater and it can be a very expensive lesson to learn for the homeowner.

If the hole or seam breaks through when no one is home or notices, the water damage can be severe. Most water heaters hold around 70 gallons, which is a large amount of water to pour into your home unabated. This amount of water can ruin floors and cause structural damage, even lead to hazardous mold issues down the road.

Don’t wait too long to replace your old water heater. If it begins to make strange sounds, has heating issues or is over a decade old, consider immediate replacement. Call your local plumber to discuss installation of a new unit as soon as possible to avoid the expensive consequences of waiting too long.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

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Is Your Water Heater Working Too Hard?

March 26th, 2014 Posted in Water Heaters
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Minerals and other components in your water can lead to build-up in your water heater, wasting energy and causing stress on the unit. Especially in homes with well water, there may be a high level of mineral content, which can build mineral formations inside your water heater. This build-up may be making it harder for your water heater to do its job, and can eventually lead to its demise.

Problems With Mineral Build-Up

The minerals in your water can often settle at the bottom of your water tank, eventually creating mineral formations inside the tank itself. Along with these formations, a layer of build-up can create a type of insulation between the heating elements and the water. This can make it harder for your water heater to do its job, using more energy and costing you more money. In addition, this excess heat can transfer to the surrounding metal tank, causing it to be more susceptible to leaks.

These mineral build-ups happen all the time, especially in homes with hard water. However, there are ways to reduce the strain to make your water heater last longer. The best advice is to have routine maintenance performed on your water heater at least once a year, which includes draining the unit and removing this excess mineral build-up that can put such a strain on your water heater.

Your local plumbing professional can perform a full annual maintenance service on your water heater, usually increasing the life of your water heater. This can save you the expense of needing a water heater repair or replacement, as well as save you on your energy bill.

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing

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Tips For Maintaining Your Basement Plumbing

January 28th, 2014 Posted in Water Heaters
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Many people have a variety of plumbing appliances and fixtures in their basements. It’s very common for washers, water heaters and other plumbing to be located in the basement. To keep everything running smoothly, there are a few maintenance items that should be performed regularly and also some basic safety rules that you should follow.

  • Never store flammable items never a water heater. Paints, solvents, gasoline and other flammable items should be stored away from your water heater to prevent them from accidental igniting and fires.
  • Check for leaks. Make sure you don’t have any leaks by checking your water meter when no water is going to be used for 8-10 hours. Note the reading, then check it after the elapsed time. If it has moved and no water was used, you may have a leak.
  • Prevent sewer gas backup. Every few months, it’s a good idea to pour a bucket of water down your basement floor drain to fill the trap seal. This can prevent sewer gases from rising and filling your home.
  • Stop water tapping noise. If you have water tapping or hammering noises, talk to your plumber about installing shock absorbers to keep your pipes from vibrating and making excess noise.
  • Check washer hoses. Periodically, your washer hoses need to be checked for bulges or wear. Replace as need to prevent flooding.
  • Adding new plumbing fixtures. Basement plumbing usually requires more knowledge than above ground plumbing. If you want to add a bathroom, laundry room or other plumbing to your basement, be sure to get the help of a professional plumber.

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing

 

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Bi-Annual Maintenance For Your Water Heater

January 28th, 2014 Posted in Water Heaters
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Many people ignore their water heaters, at least until there’s a problem. Unfortunately, when water heaters do cause a problem, it is usually expensive. From major leaks and water damage to failing altogether, water heaters can cost a small fortune when they are not properly maintained. By completing basic maintenance and checking on your water heater every six months, you can find small problems and often get them fixed by a professional before they become larger, more expensive issues.

  • Flush. Once or twice a year, you should flush your water heater to remove sediment. After turning off the gas or electricity and shutting off the cold water valve, drain water heater completely using a garden hose attached to the drain valve. When refilling, make sure all hot water valves in the house are turned on.
  • Check pressure valve. Shut off electricity, gas and cold water inlet to the water heater. After putting a bucket under the pressure valve, trip the lever on the valve. You should hear air release if it is working properly. If it is dripping water when closed, it may need to be replaced.
  • Check for leaks and drips. Most small leaks or drips are caused by faulty connections. These can be an easy fix for a very experienced do-it-yourselfer, but a fairly inexpensive repair for your plumber.
  • Check anode rods. Your anode rods help keep your water heater from rusting. They are steel wires usually covered by aluminum or magnesium. If the steel wire is showing, they need to be replaced.

By doing bi-annual or at least annual maintenance on your water heater, you can identify possible problems and needed repairs from a professional before your water heater fails or causes water damage in your home.

Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing

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Does Hard Water Matter?

May 9th, 2013 Posted in Water Softener
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Yes, it does! Most of us know that we prefer soft water since it feels better on our skin, in our hair, and we tend to use less soap. Rarely do we give any thought as to the difference between hard water versus soft water; nor, do we spend much time worrying about the potential damage of using hard water. Perhaps we should give it some of our attention.

Simply put, hard water is water that has a high mineral content, in contrast to soft water which does not. There is a lot of chemistry that we could go into here relative to the concentration of positively charged metal complexes, ions that enter the water supply from common minerals containing primarily calcium and magnesium sulfates. Rainwater and distilled water are soft because they contain few ions.

It is important to note that there has been no correlation between drinking hard water and human illness. However, hard water can seriously damage machinery and equipment that handle the water. This could also negatively affect your home’s piping, boiler, water heater, and other plumbing fixtures. Therefore, wherever water hardness is a concern, most homes and businesses install modern water softeners to help combat its effects.

Hard water forms deposits (like soap scum) that clog plumbing. These deposits build up on the surfaces of pipes and heat exchangers, resulting in restricting the flow of water in pipes or causing corrosion. For the maintenance and safety of your plumbing system, you may want to have your local plumbing professional test the hardness of your water and, if necessary, look into various softening options.

 

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Save Money With a Tankless Water Heater

July 18th, 2012 Posted in Tankless Water Heaters
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Most advertisements for tankless water heaters focus on the joys  of having an endless supply of hot water.  Tankless water heaters heat water as it is needed instead of keeping a large tank of water hot like a standard storage type water heater.

Since tankless water heaters can heat water on demand, they can provide as much hot water as you want as long as you don’t place too large of a demand on the water heater.  Depending on the size of the water heater, it may be able to keep up with two showers or a shower and the dishwasher, but if you try washing dishes while two separate showers are going, you may hear some complaints.

While it is great to be able to take a long shower without being concerned about running out of water, one of the greatest advantages of a tankless water heater is the energy savings.  A standard storage type water heater wastes energy by keeping the full tank of water hot so it will be available when needed.  The problem is that most of the time, the hot water won’t be needed for hours such as overnight or while you and your family are away from home during the day.  The energy wasted keeping the tank of water hot when it is not needed is called “standby heat loss”.

By replacing your existing standard water heater with a tankless water heater, you can eliminate standby heat loss and save up to 30% on the energy you use for water heating.   Your actual savings will depend on many factors including the efficiency of your existing water heater and your hot water usage patterns, but the EPA estimates that an average family of four can save about $100 per year by switching to a tankless water heater.

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Choosing a New Water Heater

June 5th, 2012 Posted in Water Heaters
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When you need a new water heater for your home, you have many different options and features to consider.  Your plumbing contractor can help you choose and install a water heater that’s right for your home, but before you start shopping you should understand the difference between types of water heaters and how to choose one that will efficiently provide sufficient hot water for you and your family.

There are many different types of water heaters available.  The most common type is a conventional storage type water heater that heats a tank of water and keeps it hot for use when needed.  Demand water heaters (also called tankless water heaters) are more efficient than storage type water heaters and take up less space.  They only heat water as it is needed.

Heat pump water heaters are even more efficient because they use electricity to move heat rather than to create heat.  They are often combined with a heat pump heating and cooling system.  Solar water heaters use sunshine to heat water for your home.

The operating cost of the water heater is often more important than the initial cost of the appliance.  In addition to the cost of the water heater, you should factor in the cost of maintenance and the cost of the fuel to operate the water heater.

You may live in an area where several types of fuel are available.  Electricity, natural gas, propane, and fuel oil are common fuels for water heaters.  Fuel costs vary throughout the country and you should compare the fuel costs for fuels available in your area to determine what type of water heater is the most cost effective.

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Water Heater Standby Heat Loss

April 25th, 2012 Posted in Water Heaters
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Storage type water heaters have long been the most popular type of residential water heater.  A conventional storage type water heater keeps a tank full of water hot for use when needed.  Despite their popularity, storage water heaters waste energy due to standby heat loss and waste water when the tap has to run for a period of time before the hot water reaches the tap.

In an effort to address these concerns, many homeowners have converted to demand (or tankless) water heaters that only heat water when it is needed and can produce instant hot water if installed at every tap, but the conversion from a conventional storage type water heater to a demand water heater is expensive and demand water heaters have a few disadvantages that detract from the allure of instant hot water.

Sticking with a storage water heater offers the lowest up front cost and by choosing a properly sized energy efficient unit, your operating costs will not be a lot more than with an on-demand system.  The primary way that storage water heaters waste energy is through standby heat loss.  Energy is wasted by keeping the tank of water hot even when there is no demand for hot water.

You can minimize standby heat loss by looking for a water heater with a heavily insulated tank.  Thermal resistance is measured by R-Value and the higher the R-Value, the better insulated the tank is and the less energy that is wasted on standby heat loss.  Look for a minimum R-Value of R-12 and a higher R-Value would be better.  Some water heaters have thermal resistance of up to R-25.

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