Water Heater

The water heater is a major workhorse in your home. It ensures you can do a full batch of dishes without running out of hot water halfway through the crusty lasagna pan. It provides the peace of mind knowing you can take a hot shower in the morning without running out halfway through your deep conditioning cycle. It offers the serenity of a solid hand wash after you’ve been out walking the dog, without running out halfway through scrubbing that mystery stain from your wrist. (What have you done now, Fido?)

If you want to maintain your water heater in top shape for the long haul, it requires proper service and repairs. If you want hot water for the long haul, you’re going to need a new one now and then.

The question is, how do you know when it’s time for water heater repairs and replacement? How can you get the help you need when you need it? If you guessed the answer – call Sav-On Plumbing – way to go. You’ll find your money ahead. Now let us tell you about one of our specialties, the life and care of a water heater.

Does Your Water Heater Need Maintenance?

All water heaters need regular maintenance. Sometimes the warranty mandates this, but often you need service even more often to ensure your water heater stays sound and rust-free. Going without maintenance might seem like a money saver in the short term, but later on, you will regret it when rust builds up and valves and tubes become clogged. This may even cause the water heater to crack or break.

Properly maintained water heaters should last 15 to 20 years. This means flushing your appliance yearly and servicing the anode rod every three years. If homeowners fail to do this routine maintenance, most will fail within six to eight years of installing, often just out of the normal warranty period. With water heater pricing climbing due to stricter federal efficiency standards and escalating shipping and material costs, proper maintenance save you money.

A few signs of needed repair include knocking, pinging and water pooling around the base of the heater. If you can’t get any hot water or it runs out too quickly, that is also a sign that your heater needs attention. Strange coloration around the heater or obvious cracks or fissures in the tank are also problems signs.

Troubleshooting a tankless water heater may be even more complicated. If you want to try a quick assessment, however, you can do so before calling a plumber. It may be you can determine a simple cause of the malfunction and save yourself the bill.

Help for Your Heater

If you think you might have a water heater problem, it’s time to perform a little triage, assessing which issues might be affecting your water heater and which you ought to address first. Here’s how:

• Check that the heater’s connected to power or that the pilot light is on
• Flush the heater, which will help remove sediment from the tank (if that’s something you know how to do). This should be a yearly maintenance to help keep your water heater in top shape and extend its life.
• Replace the heating elements, if needed and you know how
• Insulate the pipes to be sure heat isn’t escaping that way
• Raise the thermostat’s temperature setting (side note: You can also lower this setting to make hot water less intense and safer for children)
• If this doesn’t work or you don’t know how, it’s time to call a plumber.

Should You Replace Your Water Heater?

If it’s time to replace a water heater, a plumber will let you know. The first step is to schedule an inspection. If a repair will work, fabulous. Sometimes they won’t, however, in which case it’s time to consider another option. Here are a few considerations when you set out on your search:

• Water heater capacity, measured in gallons: Either you will purchase a new water heater, or if you opt for the tankless route, you may choose to install more than one at different locations throughout the house.
• Recovery rate of the water heater: This is the amount of time it takes for the appliance to heat a full tank of water. In the case of a tankless water heater, we measure the recovery rate a little differently. A plumber can tell you more.
• Dimensions: Will the new water heater fit inside your space? Will you need to make a special accommodation or can you simply install the new where the old appliance was? Newer water heaters are larger than older models due to federal standards, so sometimes options can be limited.
• If you’re a family of six, you’ll obviously need more water than a single person living alone. Getting the right water heater will help ensure you always have a hot water supply when you need it, without paying the costs associated with letting the water just sit unused in the heater.
• Energy efficiency: Energy efficiency will dictate how much it costs to run your heater every year. In some cases, purchasing energy-efficient products may net you a tax deduction.

Energy efficiency is especially important. While highly efficient water heaters may cost more in the short term, they always save you money in the long run by using less gas or electricity. This is especially true of on-demand tankless heaters.

There are other considerations, of course, which is where working with a qualified plumber such as Sav-On Plumbing comes in. We’ll help you think through all the options, ensuring you get a heater that will work for your needs now and in future.

Get Excellent Deals on Your Next Water Heater from Sav-On Plumbing

Here at Sav-On, we offer a huge variety of water heater types, from gas, electric, propane, and tankless technology, both gas and electronic. We offer Energy Star-rated heaters as well as the tankless variety, and provide a six-year unconditional warranty for parts and labor. Our water heater warranties are the best in the business.

Each standard water heater installation quote includes the cost of removing the old water heater, taxes, and new valve and water flexes. While you may find a cheaper price, you won’t find better service and quality. We ensure your water heater meets or exceeds current codes and your safety is always forefront in our installation.

We have many water heater models available. If you would like to learn more about brands, types and pricing, we invite you to call 602-488-4647 or connect with us online now for more information today. Our friendly team is happy to walk you through all your options and find the one that best fits your needs.