Benefits of Gas Water Heater Installation
Reduces energy consumption: Although electric heaters are usually more energy efficient (gas storage units suffer heat loss from the walls of the tank and exhaust gases), electricity costs more that natural gas. Because of this, gas water heaters are more affordable to operate in terms of energy costs, more than balancing out the heat loss. Homeowners can save on their electricity bill by up to $180 per year. If you’re looking for an energy-efficient water heater, choose either a tankless water heater, heat pump water heater, or solar-powered water heater.
You avoid water damage: Typically, water heaters have an average lifespan of somewhere between 6 and 10 years. When they are more than a decade old, you should start looking into replacing them before they break down, so you can prevent water damage in your home. To ensure your water heater is working like you need it to, annual water heater maintenance is essential. By having water heater maintenance performed regularly, you can prolong the lifespan of your water heater for up to 12 years.
They save you space in your home: Water heater tanks require a lot of storage space. Because they take up a lot of space, they are less convenient and require their own room often. Because of this, tankless water heaters are a great option. They are so small now that if you buy a tankless water heater you only need less than three feet of space for their installation. These water heaters can be mounted on a wall, not requiring any area for their placement.
FAIRBORN PLUMBING & DRAIN
FAQ: Gas Water Heaters
We offer up-front pricing with hassle-free service calls 24/7. We believe in providing prompt plumbing services you can depend on. Best of all, we at Fairborn Plumbing & Drain promise not to drain your bank account. Give us a call at (937) 240-3116.
Why does my water heater leak water?
If your gas water heater is leaking, it might be due to a leak at the bottom. If it is leaking, it will require minor repairs or even replacement. Typically, when there’s a leak, it’s either the drain valve or the tank itself causing the leak. Drain valve issues will require tightening. However, if the tank itself has a leak, the entire thing needs to be replaced. When the tank itself is compromised, replacement is necessary, and that replacement can be expensive. We encourage homeowners not to allow themselves to end up getting raked over the coals by a second-rate repair person or a handyman that’s not skilled at plumbing work. We encourage you to call Fairborn Plumbing & Drain today so we can help you with your repairs the right way, the first time, and give you money savings and peace of mind.
Why am I running out of hot water?
If you have a gas water heater that’s running out of hot water, you need to make sure you have plenty of gas and that it’s running to the unit. If you aren’t sure, give us a call. Our experts can come over and figure out if there are obstructions in the gas main or if there’s any sort of deficit. We can also check to see if there’s any sort of blockage. If hot water stops working and your water suddenly goes cold, your tank might run out of hot water. If this happens, try waiting for the heater to recover and re-heat the water. If it still isn’t heating your water after waiting, call us so we can figure out why you aren’t getting all the hot water you need!
What size of a water heater do I need?
Larger homes, schools, and buildings typically utilize traditional water heating equipment for hot water. Because hot water needs tend to vary, not all water heaters are the same size for a reason. If you have a larger residence or commercial building with four people living there or more, you need a system with a tank capacity of 50 to 80 gallons. If you are living alone in a smaller dwelling, you might need between 23 and 36 gallons. Flow rates are usually more important than the unit’s size when installing a tankless water heater. Flow rates are measured in GPM. Larger homes and buildings with more people using hot water need tankless systems with a higher GPM.
How Does a Gas Water Heater Work?
Gas water heaters use convection to heat water. Convection is a process in physics that controls how heat rises. Water rises in gas water heaters. Cold water comes into the water tank from a water line, which fills it. Gas burners located under the water tank heat up the cold water from the bottom of the tank as it is brought in. Once water is sufficiently heated, it flows back into the tank and is drawn out for use in the home or building by the hot water outlet line. Because of this, water heaters can provide hot water as soon as it is needed. Because it has to funnel off the hot water at the top of the tank, the hot water outlet pipe is shorter than the tube.
On the sides of the water heater, there’s a check valve, relief valve, overflow tube, air inlet hood, and gas shutoff valve. These are the parts that regulate the gas burner, and how and when it heats the cold water that comes in. In any case, water heaters have a thermostat that measures the temperature of the water in the water tank and turns the burner on and off to keep the set water temperature.