An Insight into Contemporary Hot Water Systems

An Insight into Contemporary Hot Water Systems

Consistent and instant access to hot water is paramount in every household. The only problem is that water heaters are some of the most energy-hungry appliances in an average home that account for 15% of utility bills. That is to say that those who are using a suboptimal heater risk losing hundreds of dollars every year. On the other hand, making a wise upfront investment enables one to reap many benefits over a long haul. Here are the key factors you should take into account before going on a shopping adventure.

Knowing Your Options

Technology is constantly improving and heaters are more efficient than ever. However, they are not created equal and besides, needs of people differ wildly. A new heater may seem like an expensive purchase, but do not wait for an emergency to strike or your budget to slowly melt. Get familiar with the basic types of heaters available today. There are four common options to choose from:

·       Conventional storage heaters are still the most widely used of all. They maintain a steady reservoir and release the water when you use the tap in the home. As the hot water level drops, the cold water enters the reservoir and replenishes the used water. One big downside of conventional storage heaters is the fact that they constantly heat water via a stand-by energy process. Hence, from the energy-efficiency standpoint, they lag behind their counterparts. 

·       Tankless (on-demand) water heaters certainly have an edge in the green department because they do not face you with stand-by energy losses.  This is due to the lack of a standard reservoir, which so many people are used to. When you turn on a tap, the cold water simply travels to the heater. In there, gas burners or electric heating elements raise the temperature and supply you with hot water galore.

·       Indirect water heaters are unique in a sense they are an integral part of the household heating system. Much like conventional storage units, they maintain a certain amount of water in a tank. However, the difference is that they are not using their own heat source to provide hot water. Instead, they harness heat from a furnace or a boiler. This “native” integration makes them rather energy efficient.

·       Solar water heaters are a newer addition to product palette, a staple of renewable energy home systems. As the name suggests, they capture sunlight to heat the water in the tank. So, unlike all other heaters, they do not use common energy sources—propane, natural gas, and electricity. Active versions have circulating pumps and controls, while passive models lack them.

Making The Right Call

Regardless of your choice, make sure to maintain your heater properly. That is the key to increasing its longevity and long-term performance. All heaters have their lifespan and some are harder to install than others. With this in mind, you should find reliable local pros, as the guys behind Hot Water Nurse, for all your repair and installation needs. Furthermore, never lose sight of energy-efficiency, bearing in mind that older models are always less efficient than the newer ones.

Once you decide on the type of water heater, you have a few more steps in the decision making process to complete. One of the key factors is the appropriate size of the heater. For instance, if you live just with your partner, it is not like you require a conventional unit with a large reservoir, as that would only lead to inflated energy bills.  \

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Test the waters  

Heaters are essential appliances no home can do without. But, an unfortunate choice can also cause many problems and headaches. So, it is crucial to research different sizes and types of heaters. There is no shortage of quality solutions out there and you want to purchase the one that is right for your needs. If you play it smart, the investment is likely to pay dividends as you will trim your energy consumption and bills. To get the most bang for your buck, take your time when shopping around, and commit to regular maintenance. Do not rush such an important decision.

Stop! Who's Installing Your Water Heater?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Heater Installation or Repair

Every day, I start my morning off by enjoying a cup of coffee and reading through my emails and scrolling through social media (don’t lie, you do the same). News, friend’s posts, funny stuff, world travel, latest gossip and local group pages. The local handy man group pages always have people looking for plumbers, and thankfully our community is lucky enough to have several licensed plumbers in the area. When the post is recent, I try my best to answer questions or offer my number for advice. What I’m shocked by, is when people need a water heater installed or repaired, I see non-licensed plumbers offering to install or repair it. Do people not know that only a licensed plumber can install or repair a water heater?

A water heater is the most dangerous appliance in a building.

In most ordinances homeowners are allowed to install their own water heaters, but if you’re hiring a contractor it has to be a licensed plumber that installs your water heater. Yes you have the internet to walk you step by step on how to install a water heater. Youtube videos, group pages, forums, and so on. Do you have all the tools needed? Did you connect the right pipes? Temperature Relief valve? Gas line? Dielectric Unions? After spending all Saturday afternoon going back and forth calling Johnny down the street asking for advice, you finally decide to call your local licensed plumber. Frustrated you explain to your licensed plumber what’s going on. If only you would have listened to your wife and called the plumber in the first place (Never admit she was right).

When a water heater is installed correctly, you could go back to enjoying hot showers and having hot water on demand. But, if improperly done, it could be your worst nightmare. If a water heater explodes, it could cause your entire house to blow up. The explosion can be compared to many sticks of dynamite. It’s not worth risking your family’s life or your neighbors. Plus, I don’t know if your home insurance will cover the accident. It’s not worth it. Let your licensed plumber do the job.

Your time is precious, think of all the things you could be doing instead of installing a water heater:

•               Taking a nap
•               Watching March Madness
•               Reading blog posts
•               Exercising
•               Enjoying a drink
•               Learning a new language
•               Cooking
•               Eating
•               Playing with your kids
•               Shopping for stuff you don’t need on the internet
•               Tagging your spouse in everything you want for your birthday that you don’t  need
•               Texting your friends
•               Mowing the lawn
•               Finally working on things around the house that you’ve been putting off
•               Pretending to do work in the garage while drinking a beer
•               Watching funny videos
•               Catching up with work

In conclusion, if you want to install your own water heater, we wish you all the best. If hiring someone to install your new water heater or repairing your old one, it must be a licensed plumber. Give us a call if you have any questions. We are always here to help. 

Kevin Szabo Jr Plumbing

708-845-7922

Water Heater: How to Put Your Name on It

Water Heater: How to Put Your Name on It

Before making a decision about the water heater for your home, you first need to define your needs. This means determining exactly how much water you use on a daily basis and how much of it needs to be heated. Then, you should start researching various types of available fuels, costs of installation and maintenance and how energy efficient the device is. In order to help you with making this major decision, here are some tips and valuable information.

Available Types

Honestly there are plenty of types of heaters. There are the traditional water heaters with a tank of hot water. Also, there are the ones with no tank, but with direct water heating. Additionally, there are the types of water heaters that use ambient heat or the heating system of your home to heat the water, or you can use solar and any other indirect water heaters. However, your choice of water heaters will depend on the system you already have installed or the space you have available for the tank.

How to Choose the Best?

The first step towards making a good decision is considering the fuel type. The type of fuel of the heater will further determine the type of heater, its cost of installation, maintenance and running. Also, the fuel will determine the size of the heater. Additionally, the size and type will be determined according to the amount of hot water it can produce for your whole family, but it shouldn’t produce way too much of it. What’s more, you want to choose an energy efficient water heater. Make a list of heaters you’re taking into consideration. Then, compare them and finally choose the one that requires the least energy, but make sure it meets all of your demands. However, don’t forget about your set budget, because you have to bear in mind the operating costs.

Gas Heaters

Natural gas heaters are widely available and you can use them according to your available space. If you have enough available space and your hot water demands are high, you can easily opt for Rheem gas hot water heater unit. However, if you are running short on space there are tankless ones as well. Another alternative is using the space heating system you already have installed to heat the water.

Electrical Heaters

Just like gas water heaters, electrical ones are popular and available even in remote areas. Traditionally, these heaters feature a tank, but there are types without it, too. However, if you don’t have enough space for the tank, but you don’t need it to run for hours every day, you should opt for a tankless option. Even though they can consume plenty of energy when running, you will use them only when needed, which automatically means you won’t be wasting energy. In the end, you should consult with a professional about the capacity and power supply, since these appliances have some special requirements.

Other Sources

Besides electricity and natural gas, there is geothermal energy as another source. This method of providing energy is increasing in its popularity, but you can use it only if you already have a geothermal heat pump installed to control the temperature in your home. If you consider installing it only for water heating purposes, you probably shouldn’t do so, since it’s not economical. Another option is the solar energy and this source is perfect for the areas with a lot of sunshine.

The type of fuel and your budget are the biggest factors that will affect your choice of the water heater. You ought to do your research first, thoroughly, and then make a decision. Buying a cheaper heater my save you money, but it might not be as energy efficient as the more expensive ones; but then again you shouldn’t buy the most expensive ones because you have to think about the maintenance, installation and operating costs.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors