Friday, September 27, 2013

Water Heater Replacement Advice

By Brian Winters


Knowing when to replace a water heater shouldn't be taken lightly. Your heating system produces enough hot water for doing the laundry, washing dishes and taking showers. You may encounter countless water heater issues if you buy a unit on impulse. For professional help, do not hesitate to contact a water heater specialist.

Avoid unnecessary disasters by shutting down the heating source of your water heater. This is important since a heater can turn into a dangerous appliance if not handled properly. Before carrying out repairs, make sure the circuit breaker is shut down or the gas supply valve is closed. Do not let water enter the tank by closing the cold water supply valve.

Consider buying an energy-efficient water heater if you've been wanting to reduce the cost of your electric bill. Old water heaters tend to consume more energy than they used to since they now have lesser heating efficiency. Experts recommend selecting tankless water heaterssince they don't use much energy compared to tank-style units.

You may notice your water starting to contaminate if your water heater is reaching the end of its lifespan. It is normal to see rusty-colored water running in your hot water taps if the sediments get too heavy for the tank to handle. Draining and flushing the tank helps remove the hard water minerals. However, some sediment may stick inside the tank lining, making it difficult to improve the water quality. At times like this, it's better to buy a replacement unit to protect your family from ingesting contaminated water.

Seeing signs of moisture near the base of the unit can indicate that your internal tank is leaking. When this happens, you are left with no choice but to replace your water heater. If your water heater has holes at the bottom of the tank, expect it to consume more energy than it used to. Some homeowners prefer patching the holes to avoid a costly replacement. However, doing this will only cause your electric bill to soar as it continues to operate inefficiently. Avoid accidents by wiping water puddles as soon as you see them around the heater.

Check your thermostat settings if you keep on getting varying water temperature. Your thermostat may have stopped working or someone adjusted the settings without you knowing it. Replace the thermostat as soon as possible to continue having access to hot water in your household.

Once your heater starts to produce insufficient hot water, consider buying a replacement water heater right away. The storage tank may be now too small to meet your hot water needs. Choose a heating system with a larger storage tank or you might want to look for tankless heaters that heat water on demand.

Replace your water heater before it breaks down to avoid inconvenience. This will give you more time to shop for different heaters that will best suit your household needs. When in doubt, you can always ask help from a specialist.




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