The Basics of Water Heaters
One of the unsung heroes of the home is the water heater. Water heaters provide hot water for cleaning clothes and dishes and for comfortable hygiene practices. Water heaters are nearly forgotten in most homes because they are very reliable machines. However, this doesn't excuse homeowners from knowing everything they can about these important appliances.
Instead of forgetting about water heaters, learn about them instead. This article is a quick guide for homeowners on the basics of water heaters. With this advice from local professionals, homeowners can better care for their water heaters to reduce the likelihood of problems and save money on water heating bills.
Different Types of Water Heaters
The first thing every homeowner should know about their water heater is what type it is. Over the years, different types of water heaters have been developed to cater to different needs. The different types of water heaters are:
- Gas Water Heaters: Gas water heaters use a powerful burner that burns propane or natural gas to heat water. Gas water heaters are very reliable and provide fast and cheap hot water. A large tank stores heated water for later usage.
- Electric Water Heaters: Electric water heaters use powerful heating elements that use electrical resistance to heat water with a large tank. These devices are also very reliable but may not provide hot water as quickly as other styles of water heaters.
- Tankless Water Heaters: Tankless water heaters provide endless hot water immediately. They are more expensive upfront, but they have the lowest operating cost of any style of the water heater. Tankless water heaters use gas or electricity to heat water.
Water Heater Maintenance Basics
Water heaters are very reliable appliances, but that reliability can be increased even more with proper maintenance. Additionally, water heater maintenance lowers bills by increasing the efficiency with which the water heater works. Some of the most important steps for water heater maintenance are:
- Drain the water heater
- Flush the water heater with fresh water
- Check the heating elements for scale
- Check the anode rod for corrosion
- Cycle valves to ensure they aren't sticking
- Verify operation of safety valves
With good annual maintenance, homeowners can enjoy their water heaters for years longer than if maintenance was neglected. Start the school year by getting water heater maintenance back on track.
Signs That Water Heater Repair Is Needed
Water heaters provide thousands of gallons of hot water every month. With numerous heating cycles happening every day, water heaters can eventually falter. Recognizing that a water heater needs repairs can help prevent a loss of hot water or even a serious incident. Keep an eye out for things like:
- Leaks around the unit or water leaking from the tank
- Loss of hot water
- Inadequate supply of hot water
- Unexplained loss of water pressure
- Rumbling or hissing noises during a heating cycle
When these signs are noticed, call a plumber specializing in water heater repair immediately. Water heater problems can be irritating or even dangerous. Don't hesitate to call when problems are obvious.
About All Purpose Plumbing
All Purpose Plumbing takes the hassle out of water heater repairs with simple pricing on water heater installation and repairs. Their fully-stocked trucks mean they can fix problems faster and in one visit instead of making their customers waste a whole day. Call All Purpose Plumbing today for water heater services in Tacoma, WA.
