Hot Water Heater For Dallas Homeowners
Heating Hot water has advanced technology in the last several years. You now have many energy efficient options to choose from including electric, gas and tankless water heaters. The new tankless unit’s heat water as it passes through them. They provide an unlimited supply of hot water that is produced as it is needed. There are no storage tanks to rust or leak.
Home inspection instructor will teach you how to inspect the different elements of the water heater and advise you on what requirements are non-negotiable.
Hot Water Heater Inspection
Hot water heaters may suffer from performance problems, especially as they age. Many systems start out at an initial temperature hot enough to scald. After running for a short time, this hot temperature may fall to a relatively low temperature. To help overcome this problem, many people install hot water booster tanks in conjunction with a hot water heater.
A variation of the tankless hot water heater is the instant hot water heater, sometimes called the demand hot water heater. In an instant hot water heater, water passes over a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is kept warm, usually by a gas flame or electric coil.
For the most part, they are reliable pieces of equipment that sit in a closet and quietly do their job. We don’t worry about them until we turn on the shower and have no hot water. Fall time is usually when most old hot water heaters fail because the water coming into the house is colder and the hot water tank works harder to heat the water.
There are several simple things you can do to make your water heater last longer but at some point, it will need to be replaced. A simple visual inspection can tell you a great deal about your water heater. Do you have a fairly new tank but it doesn’t produce hot water? If there are any leaks or water standing around the tank you have a problem. Is your hot water tank “rumbling” like a volcano or whining? Does your hot water have a “rotten egg” smell or have an orange tint.
If your tank is fairly new and you have no hot water your first step should be to check the electrical breakers or the pilot light. If a breaker is tripped you don’t get power to the heating unit. If the pilot light won’t light, it could be a bad thermocouple or pilot control valve. With either unit, you are not getting the energy to the tank to heat the water. A plumber can help you solve these issues.
The rumbling is from boiling water in the tank. Sediment has built up on the tank bottom and is actually overheating the water and running up your heating bill. Whining is caused by built up the scale on heating elements in electric water heaters. Flushing your hot water tank on an annual basis is normally all the maintenance it will need. This should take care of the rumbling volcano. To clean the elements on an electric tank you need to turn it off, drain it and remove the elements. It is important that you let the tank completely fill with water before turning the power back on to the elements.
Stained or colored water is from a deteriorating tank and it’s time for a new one. If you’re uncomfortable doing any of this than call your local plumber and they will be glad to help.
Hot Water Heater Safety Hazard
On the hot water heater, setting the temperature very high in an attempt to obtain more hot water can be dangerous and lead to serious scalding burns for the building’s occupants unless water tempering or mixing valves or other temperature safety controls are provided and properly set at the plumbing fixtures. Call (214) 238-8353 us for your home service and repair needs.
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