Water Heater Wednesday: Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless Water Heaters

 

This Wednesday we’re going to begin a mini series on tankless water heaters. Today we’re going to talk about what a tankless water heater is and how it works.

A tankless water heater provides hot water as it is needed instead of holding on to a bunch of hot water that isn’t needed (which costs you extra money). Its a similar concept to running the heat in your home during the winter- if you aren’t home you don’t run it. If you don’t need the hot water, don’t heat it up.

Tankless water heaters work by heating water directly as opposed to heating up a stored tank of water. When a hot water faucet is turned on in your home, cold water travels through a pipe into the water heater unit. Tankless water heaters can be electric (an electric element heats the water) or gas (a gas burner heats the water).

Tankless water heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2-5 gallons per minute. While this is a great rate, some tankless water haters can’t keep up with the demand for hot water in a large household. To circumvent this problem, you can install two or more tankless water heaters to keep up with demand. Since you’re not paying extra money to heat water that isn’t needed, the only additional cost to you is the initial cost of the water heater. You can also install tankless water heaters that are designated for certain appliances.

 

Next week, we’ll talk about more benefits of tankless water heaters and how they can save you money!

 

Quick Tips: How To Drain Your Hot Water Heater

Quick Tips: How To Drain Your Water Heater

Every homeowner should know how to drain a hot water heater. Over time, sediment can build up in the bottom of your tank which can cause problems. Draining your hot water heater is easy. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to drain a water heater.

  1. Turn off the water supply- If its electric, turn off the power at the breaker box. If its gas, turn the thermostat to the pilot setting. Connect a drain hose to the valve near the thermostat and turn off the cold water supply.
  2. Drain the water- To prevent forming a vacuum, turn on one of the hot water faucets in your hosue (the tub, the sink, etc.). Open the drain valve on the hot water heater. Make sure the end of the hose that the hot water is draining out of is far away from anything that could be damaged by hot water.
  3. Get rid of any remaining sediment- Once all the hot water has drained out of the water heater, turn the cold water supply back on to flush out any sediment that remains in the hot water heater. Once all sediment has been washed out, close the drain valve and turn off the faucet inside your house. Make sure to read all the warning labels and instructions that go with your hot water heater- some hot water heaters need to remain full in order to prevent any damage.
  4. Check the pressure release valve- Turn your power supply back on once your tank has refilled. Once the temperature has come back up, check your pressure release valve by using the instructions that came with your hot water heater.

For all your water heater and plumbing needs, call Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095 today!

Water Heater Wednesday

We’re willing to bet that the only time you’ve really ever thought about your water heater is when you needed a plumber to do some water heater repair for you or when you had to replace it. Here are some fun facts you may not know about your water heater

  • The average household spends between $400-$600 on water heating every year
  • The average household uses 64 gallons of water a day
  • There are five types of water heaters: storage, tankless, heat pump, solar, and tankless coil and indirect
  • The most expensive type of water heater is the solar water heater, but it will last about 20 years!
  • Storage, heat pump, and tankless coil and indirect water heaters all have a life expectancy of 10-15 years
  • About 27 million Americans have a water heater that is more than 10 years old
  • Regular maintenance can extend the life of your water heater and maximize efficiency

Check back with us next week for more Water Heater Wednesday! In the meantime, if you need a plumber to do water heater repair, call Masterflo Plumbing!