 tankless water heater Homeowners often ask us which is the best water heater available in the market. We try to solve their uncertainty by first understanding their needs and the average amount of hot water they use on a daily basis. Based on this information, we suggest them various suitable options. One of the popular options is the tankless water heater.
Tankless or on-demand water heaters are compact, provide hot water quickly and for a long time. These water heaters utilize water directly from the source and do not store them in huge, built-in tanks like storage type water heaters. Though the mechanism is a little more complex, tankless water heaters survive for 20+ years, if maintained properly. Also, most experts say that tankless water heaters are cost-effective and help you save money. While many others argue on this claim. To know how tankless water saves money, keep reading further: How much do tankless water heaters cost?The initial cost of a tankless water heater is generally higher than that of the storage type water heaters, but for the long run, this water heater is considered to be a cost-saving variant. The initial cost to buy and install a tankless water heater can be up to three times the cost of a traditional tank water heater. It requires special skills and proper plumbing system to install a tankless water heater. How cost- and energy-efficient are they?Depending on the use, a tankless water heater saves 15%-40% energy when compared to a tank-type water heater. Energy savings lead to cost savings. According to Energy Star, tankless water heaters can save $100 or more per year. Unlike a tank type water heater, tankless water heater provides hot water only when needed. A storage type heater stores water and consumes energy or gas to heat water all day, even when the tank is not in use or when you don’t want hot water. On the other hand, a tankless heater consumes energy only when you turn on the hot water faucet. The utility costs and energy are even lowered if you insulate the first 6-feet of pipes connected to the heater, as insulation prevents heat loss. What are the maintenance costs?A tankless water heater requires a lot of maintenance. Unlike any other tank type or traditional water heater, this heater requires yearly inspection and maintenance. This heater has many electronic components making it more prone to failure and needing repair. The overall costs of gradual repairs erase the cost you save on the utility bills. The choices are many. If you are ready to pay a little extra for the initial cost and can maintain your water heater properly, tankless variants are the best for you. To install a new tankless water heater without any installation mistakes, get in touch with our professional water heater installers. Here, at Hot Water Tanks Edmonton, we have professionals who know the pros and cons of each water heater type and can easily explain which variant is suitable for various needs.
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 By receiving hot water during the chilly days is a boon to us. But did you know this hot water has a huge priced associated with it? A hot water tank can account for around 12% of a family's utility bills. A good news is that you can still save money with hot water tanks. Here are a few tips how it is possible.
Maintain the Ideal Temperature Most hot water heaters are set at 140° by the manufacturers. But, it has been seen that 120° is also a comfortable temperature to maintain and use. Hence, always maintain the thermostat at 120° because for every 10º reduction in temperature, you can save about 3%–5% on your water heating costs. Insulate the Tank Your hot water tank can become hot over the years and result in a lot of heat and energy wastage. Insulate your hot water tank using an insulating blanket or jacket to prevent the heat and energy loss. Insulating the tank saves about 4%-9% of water heating bills. Fix Hot Water Faucets and Fixtures Check if the faucets and shower heads connected to the hot water tank are in good working condition. If you find leaks in or around the faucets, fixtures, or pipes, fix them at the earliest. Leaks can result in hot water wastage. Flush the Tank Annually Over the years, minerals and sediments can get deposited at the bottom of the tank. These sediments affect the heating ability of the tank. Flushing out sediments from hot water tanks at least once a year helps to keep the tank efficient. A well maintained and an efficient hot water tank survives for a longer period and effectively provides enough hot water. Use less Hot Water The simplest way to save money with hot water tanks is to use less hot water. Less hot water consumption means less need to use hot water tanks. Here is how you can use less water: Take Showers instead of Baths Taking long showers consume a lot more hot water than in bathtubs. Switch to short, nice, hot water bath using a tub. Use Cold Water Whenever Possible Some household tasks require hot water. Hence, you need to ensure you don’t turn on the water heater every time you need hot water. Turning on the heater time and again utilizes more power which ultimately increases your electricity bill. However, the key is to only use hot water when it’s extremely important. Install Low-flow Faucets and Fixtures Faucets, showerheads, toilets, etc. that exist since 1992, can use almost twice as much water as new ones. The newer, low-flow faucets and fixtures consume less water and still provide a comfortable water usage. Wash full loads in Appliances Avoid running a half-filled washing machine and dishwasher as washing fewer clothes or utensils still consume a lot of water. Always wash full loads in your washing machine or dishwasher so that more clothes and utensils are washed using hot water. If you have a very old or inefficient hot water tank, you can consider replacing it with a new, Energy Star rated, energy efficient tank. Call our water heater experts Edmonton to know which hot water tank can suit your home’s needs.  Along with installing it correctly, a regular water heater maintenance is necessary to keep the water heater running efficiently. Flushing your water heater is the first and best way of maintaining it. Here are some common questions about flushing water heaters that arise in the minds of most homeowners.
Why Should You Flush Water Heater? Draining and flushing heater tank on a regular basis prevent debris, sediments, and minerals from depositing on the walls and at the bottom of the water heater tank. These sediment buildups affect the quality of water and make it harmful to consume. You may obtain colored, smelly water from it because of the sediments. The water heater may heat up too much or take too long to reheat the water because of these mineral deposits. Flushing eliminates these problems and helps increase the efficiency and lifespan of the water heater. If you don’t drain and flush your water heater for years, your water heater will spring a leak. How Should Your Flush Water Heater?
How Often Should You Flush Water Heater? The need for flushing your water heater depends on the water quality, your region, size of the water heater tank, and the number of members in your house. If you have 1-3 people in your family, flush your water heater every 12-15 months. If you have 5 or more family members, consider flushing the tank every 6-8 months. Also, the harder the water in your area, the more likely you’ll need a more frequent tank flush. If you haven't drained and flushed your tank it for years, flushing it now may cause problems you could never imagine of. Though flushing the water heater tank is an easy task, it can become dangerous to do it on your own after long intervals. Call our water heater experts at Hot Water Tanks Edmonton to do the work for you with their expertise.  A gas water heater is one of the most important appliances in your home, but it is often ignored. Like any other appliance, problems can come up if you take it for granted. If you experience water heater problems, you must follow these gas water heater troubleshooting tips.
If There is no Hot Water
If Pilot Light or Burner Goes Off
If You Get Too Hot or Less Hot Water
If You Get Colored Water
Leaks from the water heater, slow water reheating, rumbling noise from the tank, and unusual smell from the tank are some other gas water heater defects. If you suspect any of these problems, it is advisable to call professional water heater repairers rather than ignoring them. Call Hot Water Tanks Edmonton and we will be there to troubleshoot your water heaters.  Ever wondered what is that red button on your electric water heater that keeps tripping for various reasons? The water heater reset button, also known as the high-temperature cutoff or high-limit switch is located at the center of the limit switch just above the water heater thermostat. Let’s look at the reset button in more detail.
What is the Use of the Reset Button? The red reset button is used to save the electric water heater from becoming inefficient or blasting. This button turns off automatically if the water temperature inside the water tank exceeds the temperature limit. This tripping of the red button protects you from getting scalded or burned when using hot water. What Causes the Reset Button to Trip? High Water Temperature Extremely hot water will majorly cause the water heater limit switch to trip. As the temperature of the water inside the water heater exceeds 820C, the high-limit switch trips. Hot water inside the tank can be because of several reasons. Defective Thermostat A stuck or defective thermostat is another reason why the high-limit switch keeps tripping. The heating element of a malfunctioning thermostat can operate continuously even when it is not in use This enormously increases the temperature inside the electric water heater. Use a digital multimeter to obtain the continuity reading from the thermostat. Shorted Heating Element It often happens that the thermostat is working properly, but the heating element may be working abnormally.. If the heated element is shorted to the ground, it will trip the reset button because of the excessive load. Disconnect the element wires, take the continuity reading from the terminals on the element and tank, and check the element. A "0.000" reading indicates a shorted element. Loose Wiring A loose wiring of the thermostat and heating element/s can generate high amounts of heat inside the water tank. This heat, as we know, is generally the cause of a tripped reset button. Faulty Button You checked everything and found no heating problem or defective elements, but the button still keeps on tripping. This can possibly be because the reset button itself is defective or faulty. A faulty high-limit switch can result in malfunctioning and tripping. Contact our professionals to examine the faulty button and repair or replace it as per the need. Fixing a tripping reset button is simple as you just have to replace the heating elements, thermostats, or the wiring. This can generally be done on your own. But, it is good to call Hot Water Tanks Edmonton professionals to avoid any mishap or problem during the repairing process.  Many of us don't know, but our water heaters are the large contributors to our energy bills. The electric water heaters use around 18% of the total energy usage in any house. But, the good part is that you can lower the energy usage without doing a lot. Find out how you can reduce the energy consumption easily.
Use Less Hot Water The water heater consumes energy while heating water. The more hot water you use, the more energy is consumed by the water heater. Hence, try to use less amount of hot water. You can take quick showers and turn off the faucet while brushing teeth, soaping, or shampooing. You can also wash utensils and laundry in cold water. Lower The Temperature For every 10° of temperature you turn down, you’ll save 3% to 5% on your energy bill. Turn down the temperature controlling thermostat and maintain the water temperature at 120°F in all the cases. This way you will save a huge amount of energy usage on a daily basis. Insulate The Tank and Pipes Insulating the tank and pipes near the tank can keep water inside the tank hot for a longer period. This reduces the energy used to reheat water every now and then. Insulate the water heater tank with an insulating blanket of R-value of at least 24. Insulate the pipes using a self-sticking foam seal. Install Low-Flow Faucets and Appliances Low-flow faucets, showerheads, toilets, dishwashers, and other fixtures and appliances reduce the water consumption by 25%-60%. These faucets and showerheads do not exceed the usage limit of 2.5 gallons per minute. Turn off When Away If you have a storage water heater, it will continuously consume energy to heat water, even when it is not in use. Hence, turn off the water heater electric supply when you are away for a while or on a vacation. When you return, you will just have to wait for an hour for water heating. But, this wait will be worth the usage that you’ll reduce. Replace with Energy Star-Rated Water Heater The Energy Star-rated appliances are considered to be more energy efficient. A Star-rated water heater uses 31% less energy and 33% less water. You can also consider installing other Star-rated appliances like dishwasher and washing machine. Regularly Maintain the Water Heater Maintaining your water heater regularly will help you identify and eliminate the possible defects and problems. Various water heater problems can affect the efficiency of your water heater. An inefficient water heater consumes a lot of energy and results in high energy bills. If your water heater requires repairs too often or if it has crossed its efficiency age, consider replacing it. Contact Hot Water Tanks Edmonton to know which water heater will suit you the best.  A hot water heater is a basic necessity and you cannot afford this necessity to fail or become inefficient even for a day. There are several easy and inexpensive ways to increase your water heater's efficiency and life. All you need to do is follow these 7 maintenance tips to keep your gas water heater running perfectly for a longer period.
These maintenance tips are quite easy to perform, but if you are not comfortable doing them, call our Edmonton professional plumbers. Our experts at Hot Water Tanks Edmonton know how to increase the efficiency and life of any hot water heater, and they’re just a call away.  Do you feel that your water heater is hotter than it should be? A hot outer surface of water heater is a clear sign that it is wasting power. This can be prevented by insulating your hot water tank. Insulating hot water tanks saves 4%-9% of water heating bills. Modern tanks are generally pre-insulated but, the older tanks have an outdated insulation that requires an external blanket jacket. Choose a tank blanket with the R-value of 11 or more. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.
Insulating hot water tank is an inexpensive and easy DIY project. Follow these easy steps to insulate it and start saving money.
The hot water accumulated inside can lose heat quickly if the tank is inefficiently insulated. This way, the water heater will consume more energy to reheat the water and result in power wastage. Avoid this with the help of professional water heater installers at Hot Water tanks Edmonton. They will help you in making your water heater efficient and share more ways to save energy and money in your home.  If your water heater has been giving you a lot of issues, it’s time to get a new one. Making the best choice can be critical in today’s time. It’s wise to consult a professional or a manufacturer and do your homework well before choosing the right water heater. Here are some features of various types of water heaters that can help you with your homework when opting for a new water heater.
Storage Tank Water Heater Pros
Tankless Water Heaters Pros
Hybrid Water Heater Pros
Solar Water Heater Pros
Looking at their features, tankless water heaters are the best ones. A large number of people are selecting tankless heaters for residential and commercial purposes. Want to know more about them before installing? Or planning to buy one? Call our professionals Edmonton plumbers for any kind of assistance on water heaters and get a free quote from Hot Water tanks Edmonton today!  Flushing out water from a water heater on a regular basis is an important part of basic water heater maintenance. Certain repairs that you might need to do on the water heater can only be done if you drain the tank. A water heater drain valve is responsible for draining the water heater. But unfortunately, it sometimes fails to do its job due to various reasons and one of the reasons could be improper maintenance. A drain valve can often stop releasing water properly or start leaking when not maintained. Take a look at the causes of drain valve leaks.
Causes of Leaky Water Heater Drain Valve:
If you observe leakages from the bottom of the water heater, it’s time you replace it. If your water heater drain valve is giving troubles, here is a step-by-step method of replacing it. Fix Water Heater Drain Valve
The water heater drain valves that come with the water heaters from the manufacturers are made of plastic and are not very durable. Following these same steps, you can replace the plastic valve with a brass drain valve that is easily available in the hardware stores. But, take up this replacing process only if you have enough experience and knowledge about the same. If you hardly know a thing about water heaters, take help from the professional water heater installers. It is better to consult a professional rather than trying things on your own and making the situation worse. Hot Water Tanks Edmonton professionals will be there for any water heater related issues. |
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