Aug
27
Water Heater Troubleshooting
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If you own a home, you are used to the little home maintenance items that occur non-stop both inside and out. While certain problems can be ignored or put off for months at a time, other things require immediate attention. If you turn on your shower and only find cold water, you soon realize how important your water heater truly is. Here are some water heater troubleshooting tips to help you recognize when you can repair your water heater, and when its better to invest in a new one.
It seems to take forever for the water to heat up
Especially when you are in a hurry, waiting for the water to heat up can seem to take forever. If you’ve used a lot of hot water at one time, it could simply be a matter of supply and demand; the water heater can’t keep up with the amount you are demanding. Another thing you may decide on is to invest in a hot water circulation system. A recirculating pump sends hot water where you want it, while sending the cooled water sitting in your pipes back into the system to be reheated, giving you an instant supply of hot water anytime.
The water smells like rotten eggs
If you live in an older home or a home that uses well water, you may turn on your water and discover a strong rotten eggs smell. This smell is produced when hydrogen combines with sulfur and bacteria in the water supply, and is usually caused by a hydrogen anode rod within your water heater. The easiest way to solve the problem is to replace the hydrogen rod with an aluminum rod. Or add a chlorination system to counter the bacteria.
The water heater is leaking
If you find water puddling around the water heater, it may be caused by a couple of different things. If the leak is from the pressure valve, the valve can be replaced by draining the tank, removing the valve from the pipe attached to the tank, and replacing the valve. If the leak is caused by a crack in the tank, its time for a new water heater, as you cannot fix a cracked tank. A plumber will quickly be able to tell you the cause of the leak, and the best course of action.
Insufficient amount of hot water
An insufficient amount of hot water can be caused from a variety of things. Check to make sure the pilot light didn’t go out from severe winds, or from improper venting. If it’s a newer water heater, is the tank the proper size for your home and your needs? Also check what temperature its set for; bumping it up a degree or two could give you the hot water you need. On an older tank, you could be experiencing a buildup of sediment within the tank. As little as a half inch of sediment could require as much as 70 percent more fuel to heat the water, so routine cleaning should be a part of your seasonal process.
Have any more questions about your water heater? Our friendly staff of plumbers are here for all of your water heater troubleshooting needs.
Aug
19
Hybrid Water Heater Review
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As a homeowner, you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your hot water heater. As long as your water is hot when you need it, it’s the last thing on your mind.
But if you know your water heater is getting old, and have started looking at your options, you know there are many different choices. Start out by assessing your needs.
- How large is your family?
- How large is your home?
- What is the demand of hot water in your home?
- Is conserving and green technology important to you?
- Is having instant hot water important to you?
- How long do you plan on owning your home?
Then look at your options.
One of the newest options in the water heater arena is a hybrid water heater. A hybrid water heater provides you with the most energy efficient way of heating water within your home. It provides an endless supply of hot water on demand, and emits ultra low emissions, meaning it leaves almost no carbon footprint.
And because of its efficiency and energy star rating, a hybrid water heater qualifies for tax credits currently offered for making your home more energy friendly. A hybrid water heater provides:
- Consistent water pressure, even when multiple taps are used at the same time
- Faster hot water delivery than using a tankless water system
- Compatible with recirculation systems to deliver hot water immediately
- Provides a self-cleaning system that helps it remain efficient over time
- Ultra low emission leaving virtually no carbon footprint
Are you ready for a hybrid water heater?
Jul
21
What To Ask A Plumber When You Need A New Water Heater
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Do you like to do your research and have a plan in place before a problem hits? Is your water heater moving along in years, and you’re starting to wonder if it makes sense to replace sooner rather than later? Start by asking a plumber some basic questions about new water heaters.
How many years of use can I expect from a water heater?
It all depends on the type of water heater you have. Different water heaters have different life expectancies. Where you live, how often its used, water quality, and many other factors also play a role in the life of a water heater. Typically a tank water heater will last 10 to 15 years. If you are approaching the 10 to 15 year mark, installing a new water heater can also give you assurance of not having a crack or lead in the near future, it can also allow you to explore newer, greener options.
What are my water heater options?
Do any type of search for a new water heater and you’ll find you have two options: conventional storage tanks and tankless water heater. The tank type of water heater is still an ideal choice for residential use in some circumstances, and can offer many benefits over tankless water heater options. It may also be time to look at a third option – hybrid water heaters. Your local plumber can show you how each will perform in your home, and what will give you your biggest benefits for your lifestyle.
What is the best capacity to choose for a new water heater?
When you think about capacity of a water heater, more than likely you are thinking about the availability of hot water. How much hot water will be available to you at any point during the day?
A typical tank water heater will hold 40 to 80 gallons of hot water, ready for you when you need it. Tankless water heaters promise to deliver hot water on demand, but how much hot water is available to you still depends on the size of the tankless water heater and how much demand it has. Hybrid water heaters are now giving you another option in how much hot water will be available to you as you demand it. Talk about your needs and requirements with your local plumber, and they can give you the best option for your lifestyle.
How much will it cost?
Though you may be looking for green options, one of the major factors for choosing a new water heater will undoubtedly by cost. If you have no idea how much it normally costs, you can ask your plumber for an estimate. You can also judge it by your expectations. Is going green more important to you than cost? Will you be moving within the next few years? Everyone has his or her own needs and desires. Your local plumber can help you assess your choices with your requirements, and help you make the best choice for you.
Jul
9
“My water heater is getting old, and I’m thinking of replacing it before it goes out on me. I’ve been looking at all the options, and the hybrid water heater looks appealing. How can I find a hybrid water healer dealer here in Denver?”
Here in Denver, you have a lot of choices. There are many different plumbers to choose from, many companies that offer water heater replacement, and a variety of companies touting everything from tankless and beyond. How do you know who to trust?
Start by looking for a company with two things:
1. Experience
2. Knowledge in green technology
A company that specializes in one type of water heater – tankless or otherwise – will be interested in promoting that type of technology. You will hear only the good from that product line, and why all other products don’t work.
A plumber that specializes in providing you the best value for your money will give you your options, and show you the value of each option. They have an interest in saving you money, and making sure you are happy with your final selection.
A plumber that has years of experience knows and understands how things work, how its progressed over time, and what will give you the best investment for your future. They may be able to offer you different products that can give you the results you are looking for at a cost you can afford.
Only a handful of plumbers are truly working towards giving you green solutions. Not only do they look at the latest crazes or advice circulating online, they also evaluate how well it will work here in Denver, taking into account our climate and weather conditions. Can something withstand a couple of weeks of bitter cold, and perform just as effectively in the heat of the summer?
With the newest hybrid water heaters, you really can have full efficiency, green technology, and value for your money. Hybrid water heaters are efficient for the Colorado climate, and will give you all you are looking for when its time to replace your next water heater.
Jun
17
Hybrid Water Heaters
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If you’ve done any research on water heaters, chances are you’ve across two basic systems: tank and tankless. While many sites and companies are touting tankless water heaters as the way to “go green” and be more efficient in the way your home heats water, it certainly has just as many drawbacks as well. [Read our review, Tankless Water Heater vs Tank Water Heater Comparison]
Now there is a new system that does all it promises and more. It’s called Hybrid Water Heating.
With a tank water heater, heat is generated from the bottom of the tank through a burner, and it rises through the system. Over time, sediment is deposited at the bottom, reducing the efficiency of heating the water.
While a tankless water heater doesn’t store the heated water, it still uses a system in which water transfers through a series of coils, and heats up and is delivered on demand. Because a tankless water heater is activated by flow, this heating cycle starts and is completed every time a faucet is turned on, allowing sediment to build up and potentially clog the coils over time.
A Hybrid Water Heater pushes cold water from the bottom up through a series of radiating transfer pipes. It’s maximizes energy efficiently by pushing the heat in separate directions, and reuses the energy created multiple times. The end result is an endless hot water supply throughout your home, with no reduction in water pressure.
Truly a green way of heating your water. A way to be more efficient with both energy and water. Are you ready to find out more?
May
21
Water Heater Maintenance: 7 Tips for Spring Cleaning
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There’s just something about springtime in the Rockies. You clean the windows so you can open them up and let in the fresh air. You pull out the chairs, tables and umbrellas, ready for evening barbeques. What about your water heater? Even your water heater needs a little maintenance every year in order to stay in top shape, and give you as much life as possible.
Here are 7 water heater maintenance tips for your spring cleaning routine.
1. Make sure that the gas or electrical wires are not loose as this might cause a short in the system. Loose gas or electric connections are dangerous and must be corrected immediately.
2. Inspect the anode rod. Anode rods come in two designs, aluminum/zinc or magnesium. Magnesium in some cases gives off a strong odor, in which case the aluminum may be a better choice. If the anode rod looks worn, it needs to be replaced.
3. Sediment tends to build in your water heater, which can cause everything from a shorter life for your water heater, to overheating and other potentially dangerous situations. As a part of your water heater maintenance program, the process of flushing is one to take seriously. By connecting a garden hose to the valve tank located at the bottom of the tank, you can start draining the water heater. Be careful because the water coming directly from the tank might be very hot.
4. Inspect the dip tube. Dip tubes become cracked and brittle over time. You may notice a problem if you start finding little bits of plastic clogging the system, or if your hot water starts decreasing.
5. Inspect the pressure relief valve and temperature. Test this by lowering and raising the temperature using the test lever on the valve. Also test the water flow. It should easily flow when on, and stop when you turn it off. If water doesn’t come through the system, or it drips after its turned off, it may be time to replace.
6. Check out your home’s water pressure. Excessive water pressure can cause damage to plumbing pipes, fixtures and water heaters.
7. Look for leaks, puddles or stains around your water heater. Drips, puddles of water, or stains from past leads can be a sign your water heater my have a crack or small break, indicating the need for a new water heater.
[Have any questions? Knowing what to look for during your water heater maintenance routine can sometimes leave you confused. We can answer your questions, make repairs, and give you peace of mind knowing your water heater is ready for another year.]
Apr
30
If you’ve decided to step up your water conservation tactics this year, and you’re wondering the best way to go green, start by taking a look at your water heater. How does a tankless water heater compare to a tank water heater?
Let’s start with how both systems work. 
Tank Water Heater
A tank water heater comes either as gas or electric – otherwise they are very similar in nature. They both have a heavy inner steel tank that holds around 40 to 60 gallons of hot water in reserve for use. The tank is insulated to help keep the inner water warm, and a thermostat to control the overall temperature of the water, usually between 120 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters avoid standby heat loss by heating water as its needed, as opposed to keeping a holding tank filled with hot water. Tankless systems come in two varieties – point of use or whole house heaters. Point of use are smaller units that are stationed where you use hot water (i.e. bathroom, kitchen), are small in size, and fit close to the source. Whole house are larger units, designed specifically to handle the needs of an entire home.
The cost difference is broken down in two ways. First, the cost of the unit itself. And second, the amount of savings by using a system on an every day basis.
Typically, a tankless water heater will cost two, three, even four times as much as the traditional tank water heater, depending on size and model. And if you use the point of use units, you may end up with two or three units within your home in order to keep up with demand – requiring you to spend even more on the cost of the units themselves. How long will you be living in your home? With typical real estate patterns, most people sell their homes once every 5 to 7 years. It will be hard to recoup any costs on the more expensive tankless system.
A tankless system will save on the overall energy efficiency of having to heat and reserve water. Savings can be anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred, depending on the size of your home and how much you use.
Overall, we recommend clients think twice about the tankless system, and instead focus on the highest efficiency rated tank model. Add in a hot water recirculation system that gives you access to instant hot water, and you will quickly be saving money over today’s rates, and be greener in the way you use and conserve water.
Mar
26
Comparing Water Heaters – What’s The Most Efficient Way To Heat Your Water?
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Thinking about installing a new water heater? What’s the most efficient water heater you can use in your home? When you are comparing water heaters, it’s more than choosing the least expensive system. You should also consider:
- What water heater will heat your water the most efficiently?
- How much water is wasted in order to have hot water in your shower?
- How long it will take to break even from the cost of the system?
If you have an older heater, purchasing a new one will instantly add energy efficiency to your system. From there, keep these things in mind:
Heating Water For Your Home
There are two basic options with a hot water heater: tank or tankless. A traditional water heater uses a tank to store hot water, to make it available to you when you turn on the faucet. A tankless water heater has no storage capacity, and instead heats the water as you need it. There isn’t a distinct advantage either way in cost savings of heating the water, as both take about the same amount of energy.
Instant Hot Water
With both the traditional and tankless water heater, hot water is not available instantaneously. Instead, you have to wait a few seconds to a few minutes for the pipes to drain and the hot water to reach your tap. The farther away your water heater is from your faucet, the longer the process takes. Using either system, the only efficient way to have instant access to hot water is to use a hot water circulation system.
Cost of a Water Heater
A water heater lasts on average 13 years. Because traditional water heaters are much less expensive than tankless water heaters, you may never be able to recoup the difference in the cost between the two systems. And because there isn’t a substantial savings in energy efficiency of heating the water, you may end up making a wiser choice with a traditional energy efficient water heater, and installing a hot water circulation system for instant hot water access.
Mar
19
Instantaneous Water Heaters
Filed Under Hot Water Heaters | 2 Comments
If you’ve been reading any type of home improvement magazine, or have been investigating green plumbing technologies, chances are you’ve heard of tankless or instantaneous water heaters. Are they really as good as some people make them out to be? Are they really the answer to our efficiency and conservation issues?
Like many new forms of technology, sounding good and being good are two different things.
In theory, an instantaneous water heater sounds like the perfect solution. Without a tank, you don’t have to keep a supply of water heated and in reserve for your use. Which ultimately should cost you less in standby energy costs.
In reality, this isn’t an accurate picture of what instantaneous water heaters do.
A typical family usually wants one of two things when they are looking at new water heaters. They don’t like to wait for the water to warm, wasting thousands of gallons of water during the process. And they want an ample supply of hot water, so it won’t run out during a shower.
The sad fact is an instantaneous water heater will not solve either of these issues. Depending on where the water heater is placed in your home, it still has traveling time from the heater to your shower. And the costs of heating doesn’t change – it just changes at what point you are heating it.
Add in the fact that instantaneous water heaters can cost as much as five times as a traditional water heater – costs that can rarely be made up over the average lifespan.
So what is the best option? We suggest a traditional water heater with energy efficiency in place, and add in a hot water circulation system. This allows you to purchase an affordable unit, and have the convenience of instant hot water at the same time.
Feb
25
What Do I Do If My Water Heater Drain Valve Is Leaking?
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“I was in my basement the other day and noticed my water heater drain valve is leaking. What do I do now? Does that mean I need to replace my water heater?”
With this type of question, there are a couple of answers that are possible.
First, how old is your water heater? If it’s just a year or two old, don’t panic. It may be covered under warranty – check with your warranty guidelines and follow what it says. If your water heater is an older model, then there are other things to consider before you determine if you need to replace it. 
Is it the valve that is leaking, or does it appear that the tank is leaking? Leaks can signify a variety of problems. If it’s just an occasional drip around the valve, the valve itself may need to be replaced. As a plumber, I’ve replaced hundreds of valves, and can usually assess the situation and make the correction quickly.
If however the leak is bigger and seems to be coming from more than one location, you may have a bigger problem. The tubing may be split or have a hole, and need replacing. Or the tank itself may be rusting out – in which case there is nothing you can do but replace the water heater.
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- Quality 1st Plumbing website - Quality 1st Plumbing website
- Troubleshooter - Tom Martino – The Trouble Shooter
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