While Arizona’s temperatures rarely get too cold, it’s always a good idea to have your water heater serviced before winter sets in. There’s nothing more unpleasant than a cold shower on a freezing morning. Preventing mishaps is just a matter of calling your plumber for preventative maintenance or performing a few simple tasks yourself.
Here are some of the key benefits of servicing your water heater before winter and how to do it yourself.
Benefits of servicing your water heater before winter
If you own a traditional water heater, it may be housing more sediment and sand than you realize. As this builds up over time, there’s less room for hot water, which means it will run out faster.
On top of that, there are valves, rods and hoses that can wear out over time. Inspecting and servicing your water heater before a problem arises ensures that you won’t find yourself facing icy water before work in the morning—or finding out that your dishwasher wasn’t able to clean the dishes properly because no hot water was available.
Ways to maintain the water heater in your home
Maintaining your water heater is simple. If you don’t want to perform these tasks yourself, the plumbers at PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air will be happy to help get your water heater ready for winter.
Here’s what to do:
Check the temperature and pressure relief valve: The temperature and pressure relief valve works to relieve excess heat or pressure to prevent breakage or explosions. Shut off the water and power supply, and place a bucket under the tank. Lift the valve tab to let some water out and close it. If the water keeps running (or doesn’t come out when it’s open), you’ll need to replace the valve.
Flush the tank: To remove sand and sediment, attach a hose to the drain valve. Run the hose outside or to a floor drain; then shut off the power/gas and water supply. Open the drain valve, and let the tank drain. Repeat until the water runs clear.
Inspect the anode rod: The anode rod attracts corrosive elements in the tank. Turn off the power and water supply; then unscrew the rod head and check the rod. If it’s less than ½ inch in diameter, it needs to be replaced.
Adjust the thermostat: Set the thermostat to 120°F or lower. It’ll prevent scalding and reduce your energy costs, too.
Insulate the tank: Finally, insulate your tank by wrapping it with foil insulating blankets, available at home improvement stores. This will help keep the water warm.
Taking care to maintain your home water heater is a great way to help ensure you have plenty of hot water all winter long—and it might even reduce your energy bills in the process. For help servicing your water heater, or for assistance with any of your other plumbing and HVAC needs, reach out to PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air today to schedule a visit.
If your old water heater is on the verge of giving out, you might wonder whether it’s time to switch to a tankless water heater. This type of water heater is great for people who want to save money on their electric bills. Since the water heater only heats water as needed, you won’t spend extra cash heating gallons of water and keeping them warm until you use them.
Talking to a plumbing contractor is a great way to decide whether a tankless water heater may be right for you. Read on for an overview of how they work and their benefits.
How tankless water heaters work
Traditional water heaters use large tanks to collect, heat and store water until you need to use it—and when that hot water is gone, it’s gone until the heater can produce the next batch. If you’re the last person to shower in a five-person household, you’ve probably encountered this frustrating phenomenon.
Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, don’t use tanks (hence the name). Instead, when someone turns on a hot water tap, the cold water goes into the tankless water heater, where a heating element immediately heats the water. The water is heated until the hot water tap is turned off.
Tankless water heaters can be electric or gas-powered, and will heat two to five gallons of water per minute. While they’re not suitable for heavy simultaneous use (such as taking a shower and washing the dishes at the same time), they do provide virtually unlimited hot water for your shower and appliance needs. Some families install multiple tankless water heaters to keep up with large demand.
Benefits of tankless water heaters
Tankless water heaters offer a number of benefits over their traditional counterparts. Check out these big advantages:
Save energy and money: If your family uses 41 gallons of hot water or less on a daily basis, you could save about 25 to 35 percent on energy. If you install multiple tankless water heaters, your savings could go up to 50 percent, depending on how much hot water is used each day. Compared to traditional water heaters, that can mean saving hundreds of dollars per year.
Easy to install and maintain: Traditional water heaters are unwieldy and can be dangerous to install or maintain. Tankless water heaters are much easier to install, especially when you work with a reputable plumbing contractor. They’re better equipped to handle the plumbing and gas or electrical requirements your new water heater demands.
Virtually unlimited hot water: Imagine never running out of hot water, no matter where you are in the household shower queue. (Younger siblings of the world, rejoice!) Since you don’t have to wait for your water heater to heat up the next batch of water, you’ll always have hot water for a shower, your dishes or your laundry.
Have you ever had a relaxing, hot shower unexpectedly turn into a freezing-cold nightmare? If your water heater isn’t working correctly, or if you have a lot of people in the household taking showers and running appliances, running out of hot water is a huge annoyance. If you’ve been thinking about installing a tankless water heater in Mesa, AZ, here’s a quick guide to how they work and why they may be a great option for your needs.
How does a tankless water heater function?
A tankless water heater responds as soon as you turn on a shower, dishwasher, washing machine or any other household appliance that requires water. Cold water enters the machine and is heated by either a gas burner or an electrical element. As the water enters the machine, it’s preheated by a heat exchanger to capture extra or latent heat. Before the water travels through the pipes and out of your faucets or into your appliances, it passes through the heat exchanger until it hits an acceptable temperature. The heater will automatically adjust the flame so that the water is able to stay at your desired temperature.
Why is a tankless water heater right for me?
A tankless water heater in Mesa, AZ adds convenience to your everyday life. It provides a constant supply of hot water on demand. That means no more cold showers in the morning, and no more wasting water as you wait for it to hit the right temperature. They’re more energy efficient than old-fashioned water heaters, helping you reduce your monthly energy bills and your carbon footprint. If you’re looking to help the environment and your pocketbook, installing a tankless water heater is an excellent home improvement option.
Tankless water heaters are wall-mounted, which means you can ditch your old, bulky tank water heater for a modern and attractive option. Consult with your local plumbing expert in Mesa, AZ to discover the best location for your unit. A professional may recommend installing two units to maximize efficiency.
You can feel confident that switching to a tankless water heater is a safe option for you and your family. Since you’ve gotten rid of the tank, you’re no longer susceptible to overheating or spikes in pressure that can cause standard water heaters to burst.
Who should install a tankless water heater?
If you want to make the most of your investment and get optimal efficiency from your new tankless water heater, you need to have it installed by a professional. A reputable local plumbing company in Mesa, AZ looks at all the factors, including desired fuel type, climate and all local code requirements that go along with selecting and installing the best tankless water heater for your needs. They’ll also help you with periodic maintenance and any repairs that may come up. Taking care of your investment will extend its lifespan and increase your level of comfort at home.
If you decide to add an energy-efficient tankless water heater to your Mesa, AZ home, make sure the job is done the right way. Contact PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air to install this great feature and enjoy increased comfort in your daily life.
Though winter is already here
in full force, it’s not too late to safeguard your water heater to make sure it
gets through the rest of the cold season without incident. Here are just a few
tips for winter water heater maintenance tips in Mesa, AZ for you to follow.
These tips are helpful even though we obviously do not see the same level of
wintery cold in Mesa that you’d see in other parts of the United States.
Add some insulation
It can never hurt to add a
little bit of insulation to your water heater tank and pipes to make sure the
water stays nice and hot. The cooler the weather gets, the more likely you are
to experience heat loss if your water heater is poorly insulated. Those heat
losses can result in increased costs and gas usage.
By insulating the tank and the
pipes that run away from the water heater, you can cut down on some of the heat
loss you might experience. This is going to be more of an issue for older
models—newer water heater tanks generally already have built-in insulation
features, but there are tank covers available for you to use on older tanks to
add some extra insulation.
Check your temperature settings
It can be tempting to turn up the
temperature on your water heater during the winter months, but it’s probably a
better idea to keep the tank clean and insulated, and leave the temperature at
its current setting. Take a look at what your setting is right now, and if it’s
cranked up too high, turning it down even just one or two degrees will make a
big difference in how much energy you consume throughout the winter.
Inspect the anode rod
The anode rod is an important
part of your water heater. Over time it will rust away and “sacrifice” itself
(which is why it’s often referred to as the sacrificial rod), and in doing so
it will prevent the tank itself from rusting. The rod is at the top of your
tank, and it’s a good idea to check it a couple times a year, with winter and
summer being sensible times to make those checks. Your rod should last five
years, but it’s important to keep an eye on it to make sure it’s in good
condition. If it’s covered in calcium or has seen significant wear, you should
replace it.
Clean the tank
The more calcium and sediment
that builds up in your tank, the less efficient it will become and the less hot
water it will produce. Therefore, cleaning your tank not only improves your
energy efficiency (thus lowering your energy bills), but also provides you with
more reliable hot water throughout the entire season. You may need to drain
your tank once or twice a year to clear the buildup and maximize the lifespan
of the tank.
For more information about
winter water heater
maintenance in Mesa, AZ, contact PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air today.
What type of water heater do you have in your home? Did you know you might be wasting significant energy and money with a traditional water heater? Tankless water heaters in Mesa, AZ offer several advantages over old-school models.
If it’s time to repair or replace your water heater, consider upgrading your plumbing in Mesa, AZ with a tankless water heater. Here’s a quick comparison to highlight the benefits of a tankless option.
Traditional Water Heaters
Traditional water heater operations are based on technology that is now 100 years old. These units are highly inefficient, wasting energy as they work for over 10 hours a day even when there is no demand for hot water. They are also an inefficient use of space, requiring room to store up to 80 gallons of hot water.
Traditional water heaters need to be replaced every seven to 10 years, and they pose safety and health risks due to corrosion, leaks and old water that could be contaminated with rust.
Tankless Water Heaters in Mesa, AZ
Tankless water heaters in Mesa, AZ utilize the latest technology to provide a highly efficient unit that saves resources and provides a clean, safe delivery system.
Tankless water heaters in Mesa, AZ offer reliability, intelligence, precision and customization. Their unique design allows homeowners to use 50 percent less energy than traditional tanks. Here’s a closer look:
Reliability: Tankless brands incorporate safety features and technology that keep the units running smoothly. Options include freeze protection, leak detection, dry-fire defense and smart grid capabilities.
Intelligence: Modern tankless water heaters in Mesa, AZ offer remote control and monitoring, smartphone alerts and home automation capabilities.
Precision: Engineered for efficiency, tankless water heaters in Mesa, AZ can produce hot water at a consistent temperature.
Customization: It’s easy to customize your energy use and water heater performance with adjustable power management settings that make your plumbing in Mesa, AZ simple and user friendly.
Significant Savings
By using half of the energy that you used to consume with traditional water heaters, you can spend far less money on water heater utility bills. You won’t have to spend as much on frequent replacement of the unit, either. With smart options, you could also save on repairs due to leaks and other mishaps that are avoided with intelligent alerts. And finally, these units will save space in your home. With so many ways to save, tankless water heaters in Mesa, AZ are truly a win-win option for homeowners.
For the best tankless water heaters in Mesa, AZ, our professionals recommend Navien tankless water heaters. PlumbSmart’s experts have found that these products offer top quality and reliability. We also recommend gas over electric tankless water heaters due to their ability to stand up far better to the demand placed on them by households of all sizes. Navien’s gas-powered systems offer energy efficiency, faster heating and a more consistent temperature than any electric system on the market. This is our brand of choice for this aspect of your plumbing in Mesa, AZ.
Reap the Benefits
Are you considering an upgrade to your system? For the best tankless water heaters in Mesa, AZ installed by experienced professionals, contact the team at PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air. We provide the highest quality service with the best warranty in the industry, and at the lowest possible price. Contact us today with any questions or to schedule your next service.
If you’ve heard the buzz about tankless water heaters, you may be wondering if this technology is new and worth calling up a local plumber for an estimate on installation. Here are some great reasons to do just that:
Green Up Your Life:
A tankless water heater is a greener alternative to traditional electric or gas water heater systems. Homeowners who go tankless green up their lives in 4 ways:
Use about 40% less energy.
Electric models produce no green house gases.
Enjoy more money in your wallet as you pay out less in utility bills.
Make the bank with a federal tax rebate that could be as much as $300.
Never At A Loss:
If you have ever lived in a large household and been the unfortunate soul to shower last, then you understand the frustration of no hot water. A tankless water heater is an on-demand system. You will never be at a loss for a steamy, hot shower.
Life Span:
A tankless water heater will outlast traditional systems by about 5 years, possibly even a decade. This saves lots of money in the long term.
Tight Squeeze:
For tiny homes or tight spaces, a tankless water heater is the perfect solution. They are even small enough to be wall mounted or installed in a cabinet and propane Fastar tankless water heaters are perfect for RV living.
Convenience:
Watching the big game and suddenly realize you have somewhere to go when the final buzzer blows? Use a remote control to activate the system near the end of the big game. Don’t worry about missing a play while your hot shower gets ready to welcome you.
Security:
There are 2 catastrophes of traditional water heater systems a tankless system does away with:
Explosions
Flooding
Go tankless and bathe better. To get outfitted with the best plumbing technology for your bathing pleasure, contact your local plumbing professionals.
