Hot water heater, repair & replace
Plumbline Specializes in:
- Gas Water Heaters
- Electric Water Heaters
- Energy Efficient Tankless Water Heaters
- On Demand Hot Water
- Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters Dealer & Installer
- American Water Heaters Dealer & Installer
Contact a Hot Water Heater Professional Today!
Gas water heaters and electric water heaters are virtually the same. They both have storage tanks to hold and heat water unlike the new Tankless water heaters that don’t use a hot water storage tank. Conventional water heaters, whether gas or electric, rely on steel tanks that are well insulated and usually 40 to 50 gallons of water for residential models. Conventional water heaters use a thermostat to control the water temperatures, typically in the 120 to 140 degree F range.
Gas water heaters use gas burners as heating elements to heat the water, and electric water heaters use electric heating elements which tend to use more energy and take longer to heat the water. If you currently don’t have gas in your home you can have a plumber install gas lines for you. These will ultimately pay for themselves because the cost to operate a gas water heater is less than an electric water heater. Not only will you recover the cost but you will benefit from the great energy saving programs occasionally offered by the Government for buying energy saving appliances.
Tankless water heaters are becoming increasingly more popular because they don’t require the space needed for conventional water heaters. They also don’t require storage tank because they don’t actually store water, they heat the water on demand whenever it’s needed.
Water Heaters can amount to almost 20% of a family’s power bill, so consider this when you’re deciding which water heater is right for your home. An Electric water heater costs less than a Gas water heater to purchase, but a Gas water heater will easily pay for itself because it costs less to operate.
Gas water heaters cost around $400.00 a year in energy costs, and an Electric water heater costs around $500.00 a year. These savings really add up over the life of the gas water heater and will save you money in the long run.
Water heater tank size is an important consideration if your family is growing. You also want to consider the wattage capacity and the size of the heating elements if you’re going to use an electric water heater.
40 to 50 gallon water heaters are enough for most families. However, the number of gallons the water heater will heat in an hour is very important. This is called the recovery rate, and this is one of the strengths of the Tankless water heater because they can make hot water continuously with no problem.
Water Heater FAQS:
These are some of the great questions we get from homeowners in Denver about water heaters.
Question: How can I make my water heater last longer? We always tell homeowners to drain the tank on the water heater to remove the sediment that is inside the water heater. Because water in the hot water heater is extremely hot you should have a plumber do this for you. If you do try this yourself make sure to turn off all electricity to the water heater.
Question: Is turning down the thermostat on the water heater helpful? Yes, many homeowners have the thermostat set at too high of a temperature. Turning the temperature down will save a lot of money on your power bill and extend the life of the water heater.
Question: Do you recommend hot water insulation jackets for water heaters? Yes, this will keep the water in your water heater hot longer, save money and extend the life of the water heater.
Question: What is a Tankless Water heater? Tankless water heaters provide hot water without using a storage tank. They are available in electric, gas, or propane, and once again will lower the cost of your energy bill every month.
Question: How do Tankless water heaters save me money every month? Water is heated instantly when you need it. Since there is no water being constantly heated in a storage tank, you are not paying for hot water that you are not using.
Question: Will an electric water heater cost more than a gas water heater to operate? Yes, about 2 times more. Installing a gas water heater is the most important thing you can do to save money on energy in your home.
Question: If I insulate my hot water pipes will this help my water heater? Yes, it cuts down on standby heat loss when water is turned off and turned on again. You’ll save time and money waiting for the hot water to reach the faucet.
Question: How often should I replace my water heater? This varies on the amount of use your water heater gets. Following some of the advice here will extend the life of your water heater as well. Many times there are signs that your water heater is going bad. You may experience leaks around the base of the water heater or your water heaters may take forever to heat water after the water in the tank has been used. If you are experiencing any problems with your water heater, make sure you call a plumber.
Question: Is there anything homeowners should do before they call a plumber? Make sure the pilot on the gas water heaters is on, and make sure the circuit breaker on electric water heaters has not been tripped. If it has been tripped you should then find out why.
Question: Will I have to dispose of my old water heater when I buy new water heater? No, if you use Plumbline to install you new water heater we’ll dispose of your old water heater at no cost to you.
Question: Why is there never enough hot water in the winter months? The water is much colder in the winter and it takes longer to heat. Because the water is colder, it cools in the water heater much faster than in the summer months.
