Tag: plumber

When it comes to water heaters, several options are available. These can include conventional storage tanks, also known as tank heaters, and on-demand or tankless models.

Water Heaters Denver CO are environmentally friendly and don’t require gas lines or exhaust flues. They can be positioned closer to the point of use to reduce piping costs and heat losses.

A water heater is one of the biggest consumers of energy in a home. That’s why it makes sense to choose the most energy-efficient water heater for your household. This will save you money on utility bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve your home’s environmental impact.

How a water heater uses energy is measured by its energy factor (EF). The higher the EF, the more efficient it is. The EF rating is determined by the water heater’s recovery efficiency, standby heat losses and cycling losses.

High-efficiency electric water heaters use up to 65% less energy than standard electric water heaters. This is because they have lower recovery rates, smaller tanks and more insulation. They also have lower cycling losses. They are a great choice for homes with limited hot water usage and in areas that experience frequent power outages.

Natural gas water heaters require a connection to a gas line and a propane supply. They are a good option for households that want to use clean, low-cost natural gas, but may not be the best choice for homes with children or older adults who may be at risk of a gas leak. In addition, natural gas water heaters produce greenhouse gases, which are produced during the combustion of fossil fuels.

The most efficient conventional gas-fired storage water heaters have ENERGY STAR ratings with an EF of 0.67 to 0.70, corresponding to estimated gas use of 214 to 230 therms per year. Gas-fired tankless water heaters, on the other hand, operate on a different principle and are typically more efficient than traditional storage models. However, there are currently no residential-rated condensing water heaters on the market.

Solar water heaters, which utilize solar panels to capture renewable energy and store it in an insulated tank, are the most environmentally friendly water heater. They can help reduce energy consumption by up to 20%, resulting in lower utility bills and reduced carbon emissions. However, they can be expensive to install and require electrical backup for operation in the event of a power outage. They are also the least cost-effective option for households with high demand for hot water or those with multiple showers being used at the same time.

Safety

Water heaters are a necessity in every home or business, but they come with some hazards that need to be considered. Practicing proper water heater safety can extend their lifespan and keep your family or employees safe in the event of a problem.

Especially if you have an older gas water heater, it’s important to regularly flush it to remove sediment build-up. This sediment can cause the tank to rust internally, increasing the risk of a leak or rupture.

Additionally, old water heaters often have a corrosive environment that can eat away at the steel inside the tank. This can lead to burst tanks, a significant health risk from bacterial growth, and an increased likelihood of scalding.

In addition, it’s important to make sure that there is good ventilation around your water heater. Carbon monoxide can build up in utility closets or other closed spaces where a water heater is located, and this can cause respiratory problems for the people in your home. It’s also a good idea to install carbon monoxide detectors in your home if you have an older gas water heater, as this will warn you of any dangerous leaks of carbon monoxide.

If you have a gas water heater, it’s crucial that nothing combustible is stored within 36 inches of the pilot light. This is because a crack in the water heater can produce gas fumes, and if they come into contact with combustible materials, they can ignite and create an explosion. This is particularly a concern when you store things like coats, jump ropes, and garbage near your gas water heater.

If you ever smell gas, immediately turn off your gas water heater by shutting the valve on the side. You should also leave the house and call the gas company from a neighbor’s phone if possible. Natural gas is colorless and odorless, so the gas company will add a strong scent to it to help you detect a leak. You should also never try to fix a gas leak yourself, as this is a very dangerous situation that requires the expertise of a professional.

Installation

A water heater is a major appliance in any home, delivering hot running water for showering, washing clothes and dishes, cooking, and many other daily chores. But without the proper installation, your hot water may not reach its full potential. A good installation can also improve your home’s energy efficiency and safety. If you want to install a new electric water heater, follow these steps to ensure the safest and best results.

The first step is to disconnect all the incoming water pipes. Drain the old water heater tank, if necessary, and then flush the new line to the drain valve to remove sediment from the pipes. If you’re installing a gas water heater, check your local building codes for requirements on connecting to the gas line. You may need to install a temperature and pressure relief valve, a gas shut-off valve, and a discharge pipe to the outside, depending on your local code.

Obtain and install the right size electrical wiring to match your heater. Most new water heaters use a 240-volt circuit, so you’ll need a new breaker box branching out to the area, or at least a new receptacle. Unless your house has existing natural gas service, a plumber will need to connect the gas line.

If your water heater is on a wooden floor, put down concrete blocks or cinder blocks underneath it to prevent damage from vehicles and other accidents. Water heaters can weigh hundreds of pounds, so it’s important to secure the unit.

Next, attach the cold and hot water supply lines to the heater. If you have copper pipes, solder the open ends to the new copper adapters on top of the water heater. The hot water inlet is on the left side, the cold inlet is on the right. Make sure the venting system is in place, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for establishing an exhaust pipe that allows combustion fumes to escape safely.

Finally, install a bonding jumper between the hot and cold water pipes serving the water heater, if required by your local building code. This wire helps prevent corrosion in the water piping by transferring electricity from one metal to another, which reduces electrolysis.

Maintenance

Water heaters are a fixture in many homes, but they often go unnoticed. It is easy for homeowners to take these reliable appliances for granted, until a problem arises. Whether it is a faulty thermocouple, a leaking tank or a broken thermostat, minor problems can escalate into a disaster, leaving you with a flooded utility closet and a costly repair bill.

Regular maintenance and inspections can prevent these issues from developing in the first place. For example, a simple task like draining your water heater can help extend the lifespan of your appliance and save on energy costs. To do this, shut off the power and water to your unit. Open a hot water faucet in the house, which will relieve pressure and allow water to flow out of the tank. Draining two or three gallons of water will flush out sediments that reduce your energy efficiency.

Another important maintenance item is a visual check of your unit for signs of leaks and corrosion. A rusty tank may be in need of replacement, and even a small leak can lead to a flooded basement.

You should also drain and flush your tank on a regular basis. This will help to avoid sediment build-up, which reduces your unit’s efficiency and shortens its operating life. Draining is as simple as opening a drain valve, and you should wait until the water runs clear to stop the flow.

It is also a good idea to flush your heating elements on a regular basis. These are located on the top of the tank and look similar to a light bulb. They are usually covered with a plastic cover, which you should remove using a screwdriver. Then you can use an ohm meter to test the electrical continuity of each element. If one is defective, you can replace it with a new one from a hardware store.

If your unit is over 10 years old, it is probably time to consider a replacement. A professional can help you select a model that is cost effective in terms of annual operating costs and installation.

Water Heaters Denver CO are one of the largest appliances in a home. They are often located in a basement, utility closet, or garage. Electric models heat water using electricity and store thermal energy for later use. They are the cheapest and easiest to install in homes.

The short tank design makes this model ideal for tight spaces, and fits easily into a utility closet. Reviewers appreciate the electronic gas valve and LED status indicator.

Whether it is gas or electric, a water heater consumes lots of energy to operate. Hot water heating is on average the second highest household energy expense, and it takes up to 18% of a home’s energy bill. This makes choosing the right water heater an important decision for consumers who want to reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions.

ENERGY STAR water heaters are among the most efficient, using less energy than other models to meet your household’s hot water demands. To compare the efficiency of different models, look for a yellow Energy Guide label with standardized information about their energy use and estimated annual operating costs. To find the best ENERGY STAR model, choose one with a high uniform energy factor (UEF), which indicates how efficiently it performs compared to other similar models.

An electricity-powered water heater has the benefit of being able to be powered by renewable energy sources, which makes it a good choice for consumers who want to make an environmentally conscious choice. Gas water heaters, on the other hand, are not as good for the environment because they require natural gas which is retrieved from the earth in a process that releases greenhouse gases.

The combustion and ventilation processes that power a gas water heater also waste energy by allowing heat to escape from the system. In contrast, an electric water heater has no need for ventilation. This allows it to heat up faster, and the heat stays inside the tank instead of being wasted through the vent.

If you have an electric water heater, your utility company may offer rebates or other incentives for switching to a more efficient model. You can check for these offers online, or by calling your local utilities.

Consumers can also save money by installing a heat pump water heater, which uses about half as much energy as a standard gas or electric water heater. These units draw energy from the air, and are a good option for people with existing electric heating systems or who live in climates that do not support traditional fuel-based heat pumps.

Tank Size

Choosing the right water heater size is important. A tank that’s too small can run out of hot water quickly and be more expensive than one that’s larger because it will consume more energy keeping up with demands on an ongoing basis.

Traditional storage tanks are sized based on BTU input and capacity in gallons, but you can find out more about the best tank size for your household by looking at a unit’s first hour rating (FHR). This rating lets you know how many gallons of hot water it can supply during peak usage. A family of four, for example, might shower and wash laundry all within an hour, using up to 100 gallons or more. So a 40-gallon tank, like this A. O. Smith ProLine Power Vent Gas Water Heater available at SupplyHouse, would be a good choice.

To determine your FHR, simply count how many people are in your household and then multiply it by 12. You can also estimate the amount of hot water you use on a daily basis by adding up the number of showers and loads of laundry you take each day. This will give you a general idea of the capacity you need, but it’s best to get an accurate number by counting your usage over the course of a week.

This budget gas model has a 40-gallon tank capable of producing 68 gallons during the first hour of use, making it a great option for households of three to four people. It also features a digital gas valve for easy temperature adjustments and a vacation mode that saves energy when the house is empty. Reviewers say it’s compact enough to fit in utility closets and installs easily.

This electric tankless water heater has a high energy efficiency rating, so it’s more environmentally friendly than other models. It’s also more affordable and has a longer warranty than other models, which makes it a smart purchase for any household. It also has a shut-off valve that immediately stops the flow of water when it detects a leak, iCOMM smart connectivity that allows you to control your water heater remotely via WiFi, two 5,500-watt quality stainless steel heating elements that provide fast recovery times and a low maintenance cost, and a glass-lined tank that protects against corrosion.

Safety

Water heaters are usually tucked away in some corner of your home and seldom considered unless there is a problem. However, they can be dangerous if not properly maintained and vented. This is especially true with gas-fueled water heaters which can leak carbon monoxide into your home. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer that can cause headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea, chest pain and confusion in people and pets. It is particularly dangerous for children and seniors.

A gas-fueled water heater is also a fire hazard. That is why you should never store combustible items near the unit such as paint, jump ropes, trash, canisters of gasoline, or coats or other clothing. All it takes is one spark to ignite the flammable materials and start an explosion. Gasoline fumes are also a hazard to have near a hot water heater because they can seep out of the vent. That is why we suggest that you keep your gas water heater elevated on a pedestal, which will help the fumes stay low and out of reach from combustible items.

Ventilation is also important for a gas-powered water heater. If there is a lack of ventilation the water heater can leak carbon monoxide into the home. It is important that you have all your gas appliances, including your water heater, serviced by a professional to make sure they are properly vented. Also, you should install carbon monoxide detectors in your home if you have a gas water heater to alert you of a CO leak.

An incorrectly installed pressure/temperature relief valve can cause a tank to explode. It is crucial that you have a licensed plumber install this valve correctly. The valve is designed to open when the temperature and pressure rise too high, preventing your water heater from bursting and damaging your home. It is a good idea to test your water heater’s valve once a year by pulling on the handle and making sure it moves easily with no leaks. If the valve is faulty, it needs to be replaced immediately. The water line from the top of the tank to the hot water service pipe should also be checked to make sure it is not leaking and that the valve on the bottom is working correctly (it should open when you pull up on the handle). If it does not, the valve needs replacement.

Maintenance

Out of sight, out of mind: that’s how most homeowners view their water heater. But that’s a dangerous way to treat such an important appliance. Unless you’re constantly keeping an eye on your water heater, minor issues can fly under the radar and turn into major problems – leaving you with a flooded utility closet. That’s why it’s essential to conduct a quick inspection once a month.

First, shut off incoming water flow using the tank’s water shutoff valve (or the breaker to a gas or electric unit). Then, drain the tank and rinse out the sediment chamber. This will help extend the life of your hot water heater and reduce energy costs by lowering energy usage.

All gas and some electric water heaters come equipped with a temperature and pressure relief valve. This safety device is designed to open if the internal temperature or pressure exceeds benchmarks set by your manufacturer. To test this, place a bucket below the discharge pipe and lift the lever on the pressure-relief valve. A limited pool of water and hot water should spill out, indicating the valve is functioning properly.

A corroded anode rod may be a sign that it’s time for a replacement. Your anode rod attracts corrosive materials that would otherwise shorten the life of your water heater, but as it degrades it becomes less effective at doing so. Check the anode rod’s core steel wire: if more than half of it has been exposed, it’s time to invest in a new one.

It’s also a good idea to drain and flush your water heater once every three to five years. This will prevent sediment buildup, which is a leading cause of rusty water. Draining the tank requires a large container to catch all of the sediment, a garden hose and, for gas units, a propane tank or a natural gas adapter.

For a tankless water heater, follow your manufacturer’s instructions for locating and draining the filter. It’s usually screwed into a port on the side of the water heater. You’ll likely hear a gurgling sound during the draining process; this is air entering the system as water exits the tank.