Traditional Water Heater vs. Tankless Water Heater

March 26th, 2014 Posted in Water Heaters
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Consumers today have a great deal of choices when it comes to replacing a worn out water heater.   Options include traditional water heaters, as well as tankless water heaters.  While both systems provide hot water, each of the systems does it in a different manner.  In addition, they both have features and benefits that will appeal to some, while not appealing to others.

Traditional water heaters heat water using electricity, natural gas and propane.  In general they are not as energy efficient as tankless water heaters, because the heating mechanism in a traditional water heater is constantly cycling on and off as it maintains the temperature of the water in the storage tank.  Traditional water heaters are available in a variety of sizes, depending upon the hot water needs of the homeowner.  One thing to keep in mind when selecting a traditional water heater is to look carefully at the recovery rate, which is the amount of time needed to heat up the cold water in the tank.  This in many ways is more important than the capacity of the tank.

Tankless hot water heaters, which are very popular in Europe and Asia, only heat water when it needed.  As a result they are generally up to 50% more efficient than traditional hot water heaters.  As with traditional water heaters, there are available in many sizes and if properly sized, it is virtually impossible to run out of hot water despite the fact that there is no storage tank!  Many consumers like tankless water heaters because of their ability to almost instantly deliver hot water to the faucet when it is turned on.  The reason for this is the speed that the water is heated, as well as the fact that the heater or heaters are often located near the faucet.

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing

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Residential Water Heaters

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Water Heaters
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Some homes are equipped with gas or electric tankless water heates, but most water heaters in the United States are traditional tank type water heaters that heat water utilizing either electricity or gas.  A thermostat with a factory preset controls the temperature of the water, however, the temperature can be adjusted as well.  There is also a setting that can be used to turn down the temperature while the owner is away on vacation.  This prevents the continuous heating of the water in the tank.

The size of the water heater will vary depending upon the number of bathrooms in the home as well as the anticipated load.  Often newer homes with 2-3 bathrooms will have a 50-gallon water heater, while homes with the same number of bathrooms will have a 75-gallon tank, if they have a soaking tub.  Equally important to the size of the tank is the recovery time of the tank.  This is the time that it will take the tank to heat up the water once the existing hot water is used.  A smaller tank with a quicker recovery time is preferred in many cases.

Water heaters usually have a long life span, but they do go bad.  Often the first sign of trouble is water leaking from the tank.  Usually the reason for the leak is either the tank leaking or the water being released via the overflow pipe due to a build up of pressure in the tank.  It is critical that a professional plumbing contractor determine the cause of the leak.  The contractor can make the repair if it can be repaired or install a new water heater.  The repair or replacement is a straightforward job for a qualified plumber and can be accomplished at a very economical price in less than a day.

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Choosing a Replacement Water Heater

October 16th, 2012 Posted in Water Heaters
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Replacing your water heater when it quits working is usually a high priority, but a trip to the local home improvement store can leave you feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices available.  You can make it easier by breaking the decision down into different considerations.

First, you will need to determine your energy source. Most traditional water heaters are either electric or gas, but you can also purchase one that is operated by a heat pump or powered by the sun. There are also tankless water heaters or indirect water heaters that operate with the home’s heating system.  You should find out if you have another option other than the type of water heater you were already using and compare the costs and operating efficiency of the two.

Next, you will need to select the right size for your water heater.  Each type of water heater will give you certain options, but you will need one large enough to keep you from running out of hot water during your peak usage.  However, you don’t want to pay for a tank larger than you need.  Besides the higher purchase cost, you will also have the continual cost of keeping that much water hot and ready for use.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, you will want to find one that is energy efficient to save on operating costs.  Your final decision will also be based on the different costs of the water heaters that match your criteria.

To make your decisions easier, you can call a plumber.  They can advise you on the right size for your household and answer any questions you might have.

 

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Winter Water Heater Problems

March 14th, 2012 Posted in Water Heaters
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Have you noticed that your water heater’s performance has not seemed as reliable during the cold winter months as it did last summer?  Maybe it takes longer for the shower to get hot or you run out of hot water sooner than you used to.

Whatever the symptoms are, many water heater problems first show up in the winter.   There are a few things you can do to help your water heater, but it may be a sign that you need to talk to your plumber about a new water heater installation.

If your water heater is located in an unheated space like a garage or basement, you may want to consider adding some insulation, caulking around windows, and weather stripping the doors to help those areas stay a little warmer.  Wrapping the water heater in a special water heater insulating blanket will also help reduce heat loss.

If your water heater is located some distance from your bathrooms and kitchen, you can help matters by insulating the hot water lines, especially if they run through unheated areas such as basements, crawlspaces, and attics.  You can wrap exposed hot water line with foam pipe insulation available at your local home improvement center.

If none of these suggestions do the trick, have your water heater checked out by a reputable local plumber.  You may have other issues such as a failing heating element, a broken dip tube, or an accumulation of rust and sediment in the tank.  Your plumber help you decide if it is time for a new water heater.

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Water Heater Replacement

March 14th, 2012 Posted in Water Heaters
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Most homeowners wait to replace their water heater until they have a hot water emergency.  Either the water heater quits working or worse, water starts leaking from the water heater.  For some reason, these water heater emergencies seem to happen at the worst possible time: when you are getting ready for work, at night, and on weekends and holidays.

You can avoid the added expense of an emergency plumbing visit and schedule the interruption in your hot water supply by scheduling your water heater replacement when it is convenient for you.  You can also avoid the damage that can be caused by a leaky water heater.  Most water heaters only last about 10 to 15 years before they rust through and start leaking so if your water heater is getting old, now might be a good time to call your plumber about installing a new water heater.

If you are replacing a conventional storage type water heater, keep in mind that you have other options such as a tankless or on-demand water heater.  There are advantages and disadvantages of each type so be sure to get as much information as you can before making a switch.

If you decide to stick with a storage type water heater, choose a size that fits your hot water usage pattern.  There is no need to move up to a larger water heater if you have not had any problems with running out of hot water.  In fact, choosing too large of a water heater not only wastes money on the appliance, but also wastes energy by needlessly keeping unused water hot.

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Standard or Tankless Water Heater?

February 17th, 2012 Posted in Water Heaters
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If it’s time to replace your existing water heater or if you are building a new home, talk to a good plumbing contractor who handles water heater installation and repair about whether a standard tank-type water heater or a tankless water heater would be the best choice for your situation.

Tank-type water heaters have been the standard for residential applications for decades, but in the last ten years or so tankless or “on-demand” water heater have become a popular choice for a water heating system.  The allure of tankless water heaters include lower energy costs and an endless supply of hot water.  In addition, tankless water heaters take up less space than standard water heaters.

There are advantages and disadvantages of both types of water heaters to consider before choosing a system.  The initial outlay for a tank-type water heater is much less than for a tankless water heating system.  In addition, modern tank-type water heaters are more efficient than those produced ten years ago which reduces the difference in energy usage between the two types of water heaters.

Tankless water heaters are more efficient and use less energy because, unlike standard water heaters, they do not constantly keep a tank of water hot.  They only heat water as it is needed.  However, with an electric tankless water heater, some of the cost savings can be lost if hot water is used during peak demand times and the utility company charges a demand premium.  This is not a concern for natural gas or propane tankless water heaters.

Also, a tankless water heater produces endless hot water only as long as the flow rate is not exceeded.  If the tankless water heater is undersized, then using too much hot water such as doing laundry while taking a shower or two showers running at the same time can be a problem.

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Disadvantages of Electric Tankless Water Heaters

February 17th, 2012 Posted in Tankless Hot Water
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The allure of unlimited hot water and the thought of saving energy on water heating costs have led many homeowners to consider installing a tankless water heater to replace their conventional storage type water heater.  Tankless water heaters can be a great choice for many applications, but they are not a “no-brainer” type of purchase especially if you are considering an electric tankless water heater.  There are some disadvantages to consider before you take the plunge on a tankless water heater installation.

A storage type water heater wastes energy by continuously keeping a tank of water hot, even when there is no demand for hot water.  Tankless water heaters (also called “on-demand” water heaters) save energy by only heating water when it is needed.  Since they heat water on demand, they can continuously supply hot water and will not run out like a storage type water heater.

However, if you are considering an electric tankless water heater, you may not see any cost savings on your energy bill and may even spend more on electric energy for water heating.  The reason is that electric tankless water heaters use a lot of electricity when hot water is needed which is often during peak usage periods such as during the day when people are bathing or doing laundry.

Some utility companies charge higher rates for electricity usage during high demand periods.  You may end up using less electricity with the tankless water heater, but paying higher rates for electricity which would wipe out any energy cost savings.

In addition, because they use large amounts of electricity when they are heating water, installing an electric tankless water heater may require upgrading the electrical wiring in your home.  Your plumbing professional can help you decide if an electric tankless water heater is good choice for your home.

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Hot Water Issues

February 5th, 2011 Posted in Water Heaters
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Nothing is worse than being in the shower, and having the water go from a nice moderate temperature to freezing cold or scalding hot when another fixture is turned on or used.

Water temperature fluctuations are often symptoms of other more serious problems.  Some of the most common causes of these water temperature fluctuations include:

  1.  Water pipes that may be clogged, rusty or corroded.  As plumbing and pipes age, pipes naturally accumulate a bit of sediment.  At some point, the pipes may become completely blocked.  Older homes may also have rust build up or pipe corrosion, and when another pluming fixture is used, water is diverted to that source, and can not maintain an even water temperature in all areas.  You may need a complete residential repiping.
  2. A water shut off valve that is closed, broken or swollen.  Water shut off valves can be on both hot and cold water, although newer hot water heaters have them only on the cold water side.  You should never turn off the hot water heater shut off valve, as pressure can accumulate and an explosion occur.  As pipes age, if small leaks are present, corrosion can occur at the shut off valve sites.  This corrosion can cause the water temperatures to fluctuate dramatically.
  3. Water heaters that are old, worn, or have inefficient pilot lights or damaged temperature control settings.  This is an easier fix, simply requiring a new pilot light or a new water heater.

If you are experiencing temperature fluctuations in your shower, contact your local professional plumber today.  He or she will troubleshoot the problem quickly and efficiently, and provide a solution to your showering problems!

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