Back in the day, a loop of copper tubing functioned as a heat trap for your hot water heater. These days, many water heaters include a more complex heat trap, and you can easily buy and install one in your existing heater. But how do they work, and are they worth the extra investment? How …
Perhaps it’s time to expand your home and you’ve decided to turn the basement into additional living space, but that water heater needs to disappear. Or maybe the heater is in existing living space, such as the kitchen or laundry room. It can be hard to figure out how to hide a water heater, but …
The question many people ask when they are ready to buy a new heater is whether a tankless system is as good or better than a traditional water heater. That decision usually comes down to a matter of preference, although understanding the differences will help you make a better choice when you’re looking at what …
When it comes to making the home more energy efficient, your water heater should be a bigger concern than most people make it out to be. According to energy.gov, your water heater accounts for as much as 12 percent of your home’s energy usage. Unfortunately, more time is spent encouraging people to buy new water …
The principles of your home’s plumbing are fairly simple. Fresh water comes in under pressure to fixtures such as sinks, bathtubs, showers and toilet tanks. Water is heated by passing through a water heater (see: How Does a Water Heater Work?) before traveling to the fixtures. Waste water is expelled from the home through drain …
Read moreTypes of Plumbing and Pipe Fittings – Names and Pictures
To determine whether you need an expansion tank on your water heater, you first need to understand what type of water heater you have, what an expansion tank is, and what size of an expansion tank you may need. Read on and we will answer these questions and give you a better understanding of what …
To increase the amount of hot water available at the point of use, under sink water heaters are an affordable alternative to upgrading the size of your existing water heater. Models are available in tankless or with small 2 gallon or 2.5 gallon tanks, designed to provide ample hot water for short applications such as …
Traditional water heaters all work in a similar fashion. The primary difference between them is the fuel source, such as gas, electric or even solar energy. To understand how your unit works, the first step is to become familiar with the components of your system, and how they interact. Components of a Water Heater Electric …
Before you purchase a new water heater, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the different water heater types available. The fuel source is an important choice, but you should also consider things like efficiency, tank size, long term cost of ownership, as well as the different water heater manufacturers. To help you make …
We’ve all been there. Everybody in the house needs to get ready in the morning and now there’s no more hot water. So how long does it take for cold water to get hot? Well, that depends. Pre-heated water temperature and tank size are contributors to just how quickly you get hot water. The number …
Read moreHow Long Does it Take for a Water Heater to Heat Up?
When you need to replace your broken water heater, or when you’d like to upgrade your heating system to a more energy-efficient and higher-performing model, indirect water heaters are a good option for some and are definitely worth a look. Although indirect water heaters have been available since the 1970’s, they don’t seem to be …
For as long as I can remember, you would have disposed of your home’s old water heater at a junkyard. Our current understanding of environmental concerns makes water heater recycling a much more appealing alternative. It isn’t just the environment that’s at stake, either. A new water heater can be expensive. By recycling your old water …
Read moreWater Heater Disposal: Recycling Your Old Water Heater
A water heater leak, no matter how small it is, can cost a lot of money, even if you’re home when the leak occurs. To protect against unexpected catastrophes, installing an automatic shut off valve is the easiest and most affordable approach. The Topeka Capital Journal points out that having an automatic shut off valve is imperative …
Read morePrevent Water Damage with an Automatic Shut Off Valve
A standard hot water heating system only heats water at the tank, and from there it has to travel through your pipes to reach an outlet. This results in a delay between turning on the hot water and getting hot water out of the faucet. To reduce waste and increase efficiency, a hot water recirculating …
Whether it’s leaking, making noises, or simply not heating water the way it used to, you’ll eventually have some type of water heater problem. Since you probably understand that appliances don’t last forever, one of the first questions you’ll ask yourself when something goes wrong is, “How old is my water heater?“. You may be …