How To Drain A Hot Water Heater In 4 Easy Steps

How To Drain A Hot Water Heater In 4 Easy Steps

Today we’re going to run through a few easy steps on how to drain a hot water heater. But first- why would you need to drain a hot water heater? Over time, sediment builds up in your hot water heater. This can lead to energy inefficiency, clogs, or eventually no hot water in your home! Draining your hot water heater each year as part of your yearly home maintenance is a good idea.

Here’s how to drain a hot 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.

how to drain a hot water heater

Don’t forget- for the month of December, Masterflo Plumbing is offering you a great deal on water heater installation in Atlanta, GA! This month ONLY we will install a 40 gallon electric water heater for you for only $699! Don’t get stuck without hot water this winter! Call (678) 822-7095!

What Is A Tankless Water Heater?

What Is A Tankless Water Heater?

We’re willing to bet you’ve heard of a tankless water heater before, but do you really know what it is? Tankless water heaters are gaining in popularity and come with some great benefits.

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. This simple concept can save you tons of energy and money on your utility bill. You can read more about the energy efficiency of tankless water heaters at Energy.gov.

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.

Don’t get stuck without hot water or high energy bills this winter! Call Masterflo Plumbing today for your brand new tankless water heater at (678) 822-7095!

tankless water heater

 

 

Water Heater Installation Special

Water Heater Installation Special

Don’t forget- for the month of December, Masterflo Plumbing is offering you a great deal on water heater installation in Atlanta, GA!

This month ONLY we will install a 40 gallon electric water heater for you for only $699!

Don’t get stuck without hot water this winter!

Plumbing Services Canton GA | Water Heater Repair Canton GA

At Masterflo Plumbing we’re bringing you deals that can’t be beat by trusted, professional plumbers you can count on! December will be over before you know it, so don’t hesitate to contact us today for your water heater installation in Atlanta, GA at (678) 822-7095!

Water Heater Installation Atlanta, GA

Water Heater Installation Atlanta, GA

For the month of December, Masterflo Plumbing is offering you a great deal on water heater installation in Atlanta, GA!

This month ONLY we will install a 40 gallon electric water heater for you for only $699!

canton ga plumber

December will be over before you know it, so don’t hesitate to contact us today for your water heater installation in Atlanta, GA at (678) 822-7095!

Water Heater Wednesday: Dip Tube Problems

Water Heater Wednesday: Dip Tube Problems

We’ve talked a lot about hot water heaters, hot water heater maintenance, and hot water heater repair on our Masterflo Plumbing blog. Today we’re going to focus on dip tube problems- something we’ve talked about before, but you may not be totally familiar with.

Your hot water heater supplies hot water to your home by heating up cold water and then storing it for future use. The dip tube is essential to the functionality of your hot water heater. Dip tubes are a component of every hot water heater that has a storage tank, and can sometimes experience problems that can lead to you having no hot water.

So, what is a dip tube? A dip tube is a long plastic tube that is attached to the cold water intake valve at the top of your hot water heater. The dip tube extends to approximately 8 inches from the bottom of the tank. Cold water enters your tank through the dip tube and is pushed to the bottom so that the hot water can be at the top of the tank. This process ensures that the water you receive through the hot water taps in your home is only hot water and not cold. If the dip tube was too short, the cold water and hot water would mix inside the tank and you would have luke warm water all the time in your home.

Unfortunately, just like any other plumbing item in your home, dip tubes can sometimes experience problems. The most common problem with dip tubes is that they can crack and break. If your dip tube has cracked or broken, you’ll notice that there will be a decrease in the temperature of your hot water inside your home. Another sign is that you may notice small pieces of plastic in your water or in the mouths of your faucets. These are small pieces of the disintegrating dip tube.

Certain dip tubes made and installed between 1993-1997 were not manufactured correctly and are more likely to break than other dip tubes. If you believe your dip tube may be one of these, check out the serial number on your hot water heater. If the last two digits are 93, 94, 95, 96, or 97 then your hot water heater may have a faulty dip tube inside.

If you have dip tube problems, then chances are that you don’t have the hot water that you need! Its important to hire a professional plumber to solve this problem for you. If you need a plumber because you don’t have hot water, call the trained professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today! We understand that hot water is vital to your everyday life and will come fix your hot water heater quickly! Call us today at (678) 822-7095!

Plumbing Services Canton GA | Water Heater Repair Canton GA

Water Heater Wednesday: Water Heater Rebate Program

Water Heater Wednesday: Water Heater Rebate Program

If you are a Georgia Power customer and are interested in getting some money back in your pocket, then this post is for you!

Georgia Power currently offers rebates to their customers based on certain guidelines! Find out more about this opportunity for a water heater rebate! Check back with us in the future for more information on rebates that you may qualify for.

canton-ga-plumber

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

Canton, GA Plumber: Water Heater Maintenance

Canton, GA Plumber: Water Heater Maintenance

Suddenly finding yourself with no hot water or with a leaking hot water is every homeowner’s worst nightmare! Water heater repair can be costly, and sometimes a broken water heater can cause additional damage to your home. Regular maintenance can also increase the lifespan of your water heater. The best way to prevent a broken water heater is to schedule regular water heater maintenance visits with your local, trusted Canton, GA plumber!

At Masterflo Plumbing we’d love to save you the hassle, headache, and expense of a broken water heater by conducting your water heater maintenance visit. So, what happens during a water heater maintenance visit?

Sediment Flushing

If you have a traditional storage tank water heater, you have a large storage tank that holds all of your water. As time goes by, sediment can build up along the bottom of the storage tank. After this sediment has had the chance to build up, it can become harder for the heating element to penetrate and heat the water. This can result in a very inefficient water heater, and you may end up with no hot water at all! During a routine maintenance visit, we’ll flush out the storage tank to get rid of any built up sediment before it has the opportunity to cause problems.

Anode Rod

The anode rod is a piece of your unit that protects the hot water heater from rust by degrading over time. If the anode rod is not replaced before it has the chance to degrade completely, its protection will be gone and your water heater will be subject to rust. During each routine hot water heater maintenance visit, we’ll check your anode rod to make sure its still functioning properly and doesn’t need to be replaced.

 

These are just a couple of things that will happen during a hot water heater maintenance visit. To learn more, call your local, trusted Canton, GA Plumber at (678) 822-7095. At Masterflo Plumbing, we’ve got the skills and experience necessary to keep your hot water heater maintained and repaired! Contact us today to schedule your visit!

 

 

Canton GA Plumber | Canton Water Heater Repair
Masterflo Plumbing
241 North Etowah Drive
Canton, GA 30114
678-822-7095
http://www.masterfloplumbing.com 

Water Heater Wednesday: No Hot Water

Water Heater Wednesday: No Hot Water

As a homeowner, not having any hot water is a huge stressor! If you’ve ever been in the middle of a shower or washing dishes and suddenly only have freezing cold water you know what we’re talking about! You probably panicked, wondering why you didn’t have any hot water and, of course, how much money its going to cost to fix it. There are a couple reasons why your hot water heater may have stopped putting out hot water. Unfortunately, unless you’re a trained, experienced plumber, you generally can’t fix a hot water heater on your own. Its still a good idea to know a little bit about what’s going on, though. Let’s take a look at why you may have no hot water.

Sediment Buildup

Sediment buildup is generally not a problem that presents itself suddenly. Its also one of the most common (and irritating!) reasons why your hot water heater may not be putting out any hot water. Sediment buildup occurs by sediment building up on the bottom of your water heater tank. This usually occurs due to hard water. If enough sediment is allowed to build up on the bottom of your tank, it can keep the heat from the heating element from getting to the water inside the tank to heat it. It will be impossible for the heat from the heating element to penetrate through all the sediment to reach the water inside. Fortunately, flushing the tank is an easy way for a professional plumber to fix this problem!

Broken Dip Tube

The dip tube is a long tube that runs from the water line to the bottom of the water heater tank. Cold water runs from this tube into the tank, where it is then heated by the heating element. If the dip tube is cracked or broken, the cold water in it will leak right into the water in the tank that is already heated. If you have hot water that is interrupted by intermittent bursts of cold water, you may have a broken dip tube! This is another easy fix for a professional plumber.

 

If you’re struggling with no hot water at your house, don’t hesitate- contact the trusted professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today! We have the skills and experience needed to repair your hot water heater today! To get hot water back into your home call (678) 822-7095 today!

Water Heater Wednesday: Standard Tank Water Heater Installation

Water Heater Wednesday: Standard Tank Water Heater Installation

The most common type of water heater in the American home is the traditional storage tank water heater. A storage tank water heater is a unit made up of a large tank and heating element. The tank stores water and the heating element heats this water up, so the water in the tank is hot and available for use all day. Cooler water moves to the bottom of the tank through the dip tube, where it is heated by the heating element and then rises to the top of the tank. The hot water at the top of the tank is sucked up for use by a pipe when a hot water faucet is turned on somewhere in your home.

For many years, the traditional storage tank water heater was the most up to date technology and was the best way to heat water. However, advancements in technology led to the development of the tankless water heater.

Tankless water heaters don’t store water, but instead they rely on a computer that is activated when you turn on a hot water faucet in your home. A tankless water heater uses either an electric or gas powered heating element, similar to a traditional storage tank water heater. The difference is that with a tankless water heater, the heating element only turns on when you need it and turns off afterwards.

While tankless water heaters have many benefits, the traditional tank storage water heater continues to be the most popular water heater option in the United States. Tankless water heaters have some disadvantages which may not make them the right choice for you.

Tankless water heaters do have several advantages- because there is no storage tank they don’t take up a lot of space. Also, they never run out of hot water like storage tank water heaters can. Also, they conserve more energy than storage tank water heaters.

Although these are some great advantages, there are some disadvantages as well. The initial cost of a tankless water heater is much higher than the cost of a traditional storage tank water heater. Traditional storage tank water heater installation is much more affordable than tankless water heater installation. Even with the monthly energy savings of a tankless water heater, it can take years for these savings to offset the high initial installation cost.

Another disadvantage of tankless water heaters is that sometimes there is a delay in getting hot water into your home. Also, you may need additional units to keep up with hot water demand for a larger family.

For standard tank water heater installation in Canton, GA call the trusted experts at Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095!

 

 

Water Heater Wednesday: Water Heater Repair

Water Heater Wednesday: Water Heater Repair 

Although water heaters are super sturdy and durable appliances, they work hard almost every single day. This daily use can and does cause them to develop problems and small malfunctions over time. This is totally normal! If you notice a problem with your hot water heater, its important that you call Masterflo for water heater repair immediately! We have the experience, skills, and tools necessary to fix your hot water heater before it becomes irreparable. The longer a problem with your water heater is allowed to continue, the worse it will get. If the problem goes on long enough, you may have to replace your entire unit!

Here are some common water heater repair issues:

  • Leaks- Leaks are a very common water heater repair issue. There are many areas of your hot water heater that can spring a leak. Bad valves and loose pipe junctions are the most common cause of leaks. If your hot water heater springs a leak in the main tank, this can be a huge problem! A small leak in your hot water heater can quickly turn into a big disaster. A leak in the main tank is usually caused by rust and can eventually lead to your whole tank exploding. If you see any leaks- even a small one- have it repaired immediately!
  • Low output- If your hot water heater is suddenly not keeping up with your demand for hot water, it could mean a variety of things. You could have a dirty burner assembly that is having trouble igniting all of the jets. This would significantly lower the temperature of the water in the tank. You could also have a large buildup of sediment in your tank. Because the cause of low output is hard to determine, its important to call a trust professional immediately to pinpoint and fix the issue.

If you have any of these water heater repair issues, be sure to call us at Masterflo! You can trust us to accurately correct your water heater problem the first time around! With years of experience repairing and replacing water heaters, we can take care of all your hot water heater needs. Call us today at (678) 822-7095!