Water Heater Problems

Water Heater Problems. Who To Call?

Hot water heater problems can cause a real inconvenience to family members. Do yourself a favor and don't risk the safety of your home and family by trying to troubleshoot a water heater problem yourself. Call a licensed plumber and let the experts handle it. If you have an old water heater, you might be doing yourself a real favor by just getting a new one. A new energy efficient water heater or tankless water heater might even save you money in the long run in addition to giving you the peace of mind knowing you have have hot water when you need it.

The Water Heater

Whether you cooking, cleaning, showering or doing a load of laundry a properly working water heater is a must. The traditional water heater is a tank water heater, although tankless water heaters are becoming more and more popular. And with the current "green" attitude in the United States, more innovated water heaters (as well as many other home appliances and electronics) are gaining popularity.

Your traditional water heater is a tank that is constantly holding and heating water. This water is most likely being heated by gas, oil or electricity (or in more advanced systems, with solar or geothermal energy). One problem with a tank water heater is that water is constantly being heated - a drain on energy. Another problem is that as you use more water, the tank of "available hot water" get lower and eventually, if you use too much water, too soon - you "run out" of hot water. The average US water heater's size is 25 to 100 gallons.

An emerging water heating technology is tankless water heating. Also known as on-demand water heaters. These water heaters can be a single tankless water heater that replaces a tank water heater, or more likely (and more efficiently) with additional heating elements installed on faucets, showers and other water outlets. With tankless water heaters, the water heating device heats the water as it is running through the pipes - and most importantly, only when you want hot water. While the initial cost of a tankless water heating system may be high - the energy and cost savings will very likely result in the long run.

Water Heater Safety Tips

Water heaters do indeed have the ability to explode, it's not a myth! Ensure that your water heater has a temperature and pressure relief valve properly installed. If you don't have one, or don't know - your should contact a local water heater specialist or plumber as soon as possible. If purchasing a home, new or old, the water heater should be on your list of inspection items.