Water Heaters types, repair and maintenance tips

Insights on Water Heater

Water Heaters because they provide hot water is a necessity. We prefer hot soothing water for showers, dishwashing, laundry and other purposes especially if we are living in cold temperatures. So most of our homes do have water heaters to heat the water as we prefer. But with my years  of plumbing experience I've seen multiple issues on the water heater that most of us are unaware of.

I've covered a basic understanding so that whenever problems arise with your water heater, you don't need to panic and search for Water Heater Service Near Me on Google. You can take your time and search for "North West Plumbing" if you live here, excuse me because I live in North West. So before we actually begin lets start with the types of water heaters that are commonly available.

Existing Water Heater Types

1. Water Heaters with Storage Tanks: Regardless of data I can say this one is the most common water heater type which consist of large insulated tanks for storing hot water. Electricity, Natural Gas, Propane or oil is used to heat the tank. They comes in different sizes and one can easily choose based on the utility. Easy to install and affordable makes it the most popular choice of normal people. 

2.Water Heaters without Storage Tanks: If you don't prefer to store hot water for certain intervals and would like to have instant flow of hot water whenever faucet or switch is turned. Also if you opt for energy saving alternative where you don't need to heat the and store it for future reference. This tankless water heater can be your best choice. They are available in electric and gas heating methods and are smaller with compact designs. Although one time installation charges are more considered to storage tank water heaters, this energy saving Tankless water heater saves more cost in long run.

3. Heat Pumping Water Heaters: It is a new concept among heaters which extracts heat from air or ground and is compressed to pass through a coil. It works somewhat similar to refrigerator. This water heater is not possible in colder regions as they rely on hot air extraction. 

4. Solar powered Water Heaters: Solar Panels or Photovoltaic cells capture solar energy and convert them in the form of heat. The heat is passed over to water tanks. This is also commonly used water heating technique in areas with proper sunlight. This water heating technique reduces carbon emission which reduces environmental impact.

Guide for Water Heaters Installations

Proper installation and safe operation are important factors for almost every equipment. So before installation there are some things that needs to be considered which are:

- Location: You should be well aware about the installation of water heaters. The main goal is to think and decide where and how. The installation area must be well ventilated and should be accessible for maintenance.

- Size: The size of water heater should be in accordance with the utility and the use of household.

- Energy Source: Choose an energy source that is available, accessible and is in your top priority list of energy saving. You can choose Electricity or Solar as renewable source and Gas in colder regions with no sunlight or electricity.

- Regulations: There are a set of building codes and regulations that needs to be followed. These rules and regulations comply with safety and sustainability while installing water heaters and repairing water heaters.

Maintenance Tips

We perform regular maintenance and checks only if we know they are prone to damages that leads to costly repairs. These water heaters also need timely cleaning, checks and maintenance. Here are some common tips for water heaters.

- The tank builds up sediments after time so it is recommended to flush tank annually.

- Check timely pressure gauze and valves along with heating elements for proper operation and leaks .

- Check the anode rod every few years and replace if necessary to prevent corrosion.

- To reduce heat loss use insulation cover for heating pipes

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. No Hot Water: First of all check the power source if it is turned on. Check thermostat settings if you know how it works else call for emergency plumber asap.

2. Not Enough Hot Water: Adjusting the temperature settings can solve this issue. Sometimes insufficient power can cause such problems. If such problems persists contact your favorite Plumber or go to google and search for Plumber Nearby me.

3. Leaks: You can carefully inspect the tank, connections, and pressure relief valve for leaks. If tools are available you can tighten connections or call a plumber to replace faulty parts.

Conclusion

Water heaters are major aid to our day to day life. Their proper care, maintenance, longevity and efficiency are prime factors. You don't need to be a plumber to understand basic things. It is also necessary to understand different water heaters, how they works and DIY home remedies as a plumber visit can cost a fortune. But if you are stuck or cannot resolve the issue yourself it is best recommended to call a plumber.