The majority of homes include common devices like water heaters. This is so because the water entering your home travels through a pipe system and is often either frigid or cool, depending on the season. You need a water heater to have warm enough water to wash your clothes, take a bath, or shower.
They usually reside in basement and resemble large metal cylinders. Tankless water heaters, which offer endless hot water on demand, are one of the noteworthy features of more recent types. Yet the typical, dependable water heater model essentially consists of a drum filled with water and has a heating mechanism on the bottom or inside.
A water heater may operate more effectively and last longer in a number of simple and low-cost ways. The advantages of maintaining your water heater are obvious. Insulation can cut water heating expenses by as much as 9% and reduce heat loss by up to 45 %. The tank’s effectiveness and longevity are increased by flushing out the sediment.
Simply follow to these hot water heater maintenance suggestions to reduce the cost of your hot water:
- Check Your Work: Close the shutoff button on the water heater’s cold water supply line. The pressure inside the heater’s tank will then be released by turning on any tap that has hot water. Keep the tap running until you are done. Turn off the electricity at the main panel if you have an electric heater. Turn the gas control dial to “off” on a gas burner.
- Do a Mini-Flush: Remove sediment from the tank’s bottom to stop rust and corrosion, which will also increase the appliance’s energy effectiveness. Although flushing the water heater tank completely is ideal, doing so requires turning off the water heater. A mini-flush is effective, quick, and can be carried out while the water boiler is operating.
- Test the Valve: On the top or side of the water heater, the pressure-relief valve should be tested. When the pressure inside the tank rises, this valve opens immediately. Place a bucket beneath the water heater tank’s discharge pipe and slightly lift the pressure-relief valve’s lever to test it.
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- Replace the Valve (If Necessary): Replace the valve if it doesn’t release water when you raise the lever. Turn off the water, empty the tank, remove the discharge line, and then unscrew the old valve to replace it. The replacement valve’s threads should be taped with sealant before being screwed in. Your valve might leak if it has been in use for a while without being checked. Replace the valve if that is the situation.
- Dial Down the Temperature: The standard installation setting for water heaters is between 130 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower temps, however, reduce the possibility of scalding and delay the buildup of mineral deposits in your water heater tank. Turn the temperature gauge on a gas water heater’s gas valve to 120 F to reduce the water’s temperature. You might have to take out a tiny metal panel covering the thermostat on an electric water heater in order to reduce the water temperature. Both a higher and a lower thermostat are common in electric water heaters. If your thermostat has two settings, set the lower one to the same temperature as the higher one.
- Check the Anode Rod: Connect a hose to the drain cock on the tank and release a few liters of water. Now screw the rod out from the top of the radiator by inserting a 1 1/16-inch socket into the rod’s hex head. Purchase a replacement, cover its threads with Teflon tape, reinstall it in the tank, and tighten tightly if it is less than 12 inch thick or covered with calcium. If there is little space above the tank, use this segmented rod.
- Insulate the Pipes: Buy some 3/8-inch thick, self-sticking foam pipe insulation that fits the pipe lines’ diameter. As far as you can, slide the foam over the hot and cold water lines. Condensation in the heat can be avoided by insulating the cold water pipe. To seal the insulation, peel the tape off. Cover the conduit with 1-inch-thick unfaced fiber glass pipe wrap if it is 6 inches or less from the flue.
- Insulate the Heater: Cut the insulating material to fit around the tank’s pipes, TPR valve, and temperature control. Wrap the tank’s exterior and use foil tape to repair any cuts. Gas and oil stoves’ tops shouldn’t be covered. An extra-large circle of insulation should be used to cover an electric heater, and its border should be taped firmly to the tank’s side.
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Homeowners can pick between tank water heaters and tankless water heaters when they require dependable hot water. The greatest water heater for your home depends on a number of factors unique to your household and your needs for hot water delivery; there is no one ideal option.
Tank Water Heaters: Tank storage water heaters are a common option in homes, they are the type of water heater that homeowners are most likely to be familiar with. A tank-style heaters that heat water and then store it for later use.
Both electric and natural gas-powered tank water heaters are available. Your home’s tank water heater consumes energy constantly. These heaters maintain the temperature of the water inside the tank constantly so that it is ready for use when the taps are turned on.
Tankless Water Heater: As an energy-efficient replacement for tank water heaters and the issues they have with dormant heat loss, tankless water heaters are a more recent development in the water heating industry.
Unlike tank-style water heaters, tankless heaters only heat water when your hot water tap and other appliances actually need it. When a hot water tap activates and indicates that hot water is required, the tankless water heater heats water to the desired temperature and sends it to the selected outlet.
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Differences between Tank and Tankless Water Heater
Initial Investment:
Since they are more expensive to install than tank-style water heaters, on-demand water heaters have higher installation expenses. A natural gas model will likely cost more than an electric model on both sides. When replacing a tank storage water heater with a tankless hot water heater, there are extra steps required.
Therefore, a tankless water heater will be more expensive up front than a tank model.
Power Savings
Tankless water heaters are more expensive up front, but because of the energy savings they produce, many homeowners choose for this technology. Over time, the savings you create help you recoup the cost of the purchase.
In a typical home, water heaters consume the third most energy.
That is not to say that energy-efficient storage tank water heaters are not conceivable. Due to typically lower natural gas prices, gas is usually more affordable to operate than electricity.
Overall, tankless water heaters save you money since they use less energy and have reduced operational costs, which reduces the cost of your utility bills.
Product Life
The typical lifespan of a tank water heater is between 10 and 15 years. While it comes to equipment failure, there are some harm hazards when using a heater in the tank design.
In contrary, tankless water heaters have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Water hardness and maintenance techniques have an impact on the equipment’s service life.
Restrictions on Installation
Tank water heaters demand significantly more installation area than tankless models due to their storage tank. You give up precious space that could be utilized for other purposes in order to make room for a big water storage tank.
Tankless water heaters are the best option for installation in confined spaces. They are easily able to fit in small locations and may be mounted on walls, which is beneficial in smaller households.
Conclusion
Tankless water heaters dominate in almost all categories when compared to storage tank water heaters. However, the tankless water heater will cost more to buy and install.
If your family frequently requires hot water at the same time, compare the cost of installing two tankless heaters to meet the demand with that of building a larger storage tank water heater. If you choose a storage tank model, find out the cost of replacing the anode rods and when it needs to be done before purchase and installation to increase the tank’s lifespan.
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Choosing and Installing a Tankless Water Heater
Are you interested in installing a tankless water heater in your home? If so, you’ll want to know the requirements for tankless water heaters, installation tips, and the benefits of tankless water heaters before making your decision.
Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters are more energy-efficient than their counterparts. This is because they don’t have to store heated water and reheat it when needed. They provide hot water on demand! They also save you money by being able to use cold water to generate hot water on a whim – no need to run gallons of tap water through a hot-water tank waiting for it to reach the desired temperature. And when used in combination with solar panels, they’re even more energy efficient!
Installation Tips
Tankless water heaters are very simple to install. This is perfect for do-it-yourself enthusiasts who love tackling projects from start to finish. Installation usually takes no more than an hour or two and can be done on your own with simple tools like a wrench and an open flame source such as a propane torch or welding equipment.
Choosing the right tankless water heater
Finding a reliable and dependable water heater is crucial, that’s why at Fox Valley Plumbing, we specialize in tankless water heaters. We offer a wide range of options to fit any home.
Tankless water heater installation
At Fox Valley Plumbing, we take pride in our workmanship. We will make sure to install your new tankless water heater correctly to ensure it’s long-lasting and dependable.
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Your old gas or electric water heater is not heating like it’s supposed to.If you’ve ever been in a cold shower against your will then you know there are not many more stressful situations, or annoying than wanting to take a hot shower and learning you have no hot water.
What! Really! No one wants a cold shower in the dead of winter. (Except maybe…. never mind). Trust, here at Fox Valley Plumbing and backflow we understand. That is why we are here to help. Fox Valley Plumbing would like to serve you with all your water heater service needs!
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Your old gas or electric water heater is not heating like it’s supposed to. Maybe it’s leaking or too hot? Fox Valley Plumbing and Backflow in Barrington, Illinois and surrounding areas are here to help. We’ve got everything you need to keep your baths hot but not too hot. So you can enjoy long showers if you so desire.
Our professional plumbers are experienced and capable of taking care of all brands of water heaters, electric and gas. We service commercial water heaters for your business and for your home. We use Bradford White water heaters for all our standard installs.
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Fox Valley Plumbing uses high-quality, high-efficiency contractor-grade units with reliable warranties. We work with all-size electric and gas water heaters. Federal regulations have changed many of the options for larger (60, 75, and 80-gallon tanks) so we would be happy to talk to you about your options.
Electric Hybrid heaters and tankless water heaters have become the favorite upgrade for those oversized tank heaters of the past. Several commercial settings are moving to tankless water heaters as well, both for efficiency and extra space.
And guess what? “It doesn’t have to be expensive.” Trust and believe we get it. After all, Fox Valley Plumbing and Backflow has been owned and operated by an Elgin, Illinois family, just like yours, for nearly 20 years. That’s why here at Fox Valley Plumbing and Backflow, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that you are completely satisfied with your new Gas, Electric, or Tankless water heater, and to keep the price as low as we can.
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As you know, all of our units come with a manufacturer warranty, to make sure that our work and your new water heater are in top working condition for as long as we can reasonably expect them to.
Our plumbers are trained and extremely skilled and educated, ensuring that you are getting precisely what you want out of your gas or electric water heater.
Are you the one that took a bath this morning and were upset to learn that you can’t even fill your tub before the faucet spits out all of Antarctica? Or possibly you’re the last one to take a shower while your family was visiting for the weekend and let’s just say it wasn’t hot.
Whatever the reason, and whatever the need, Fox Valley Plumbing and Backflow wants to be your water heater service provider. We will make your showers and baths Hot again!
Call Us at (847) 624-3872
Call Us At (847) 624-3872
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Are You Really GOING TANKLESS…
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Barrington, Illinois – Fox Valley Plumbing and Backflow offers commercial and residential installation, maintenance and repairs of tankless water heaters of all kinds.
With our necessary certifications, license and training our job is to assure are customers are treated in a professional and knowledgeable manner
In 2018 the trend in the market say’s tankless water heaters are preferred over traditional water heaters.
There are three reasons why the popularity of tankless water heaters are growing. One, tankless water heaters save space as they are wall-mounted and do not require large storage tanks. Two, they have greater energy efficiency as they avoid the need to heat and reheat water in a storage tank. Three, they have an increased life of nearly 15 – 20 years.
Fox Valley Plumbing and Backflow has an experienced and skilled team that service all models of tankless water heaters.
You have a few options when it comes to choosing a tankless hot water heater.
Option #1 Non-Condensing Tankless Water Heaters
Non-condensing tankless water heaters – these heaters much like a condensing tankless water heater the non-condensing tankless water heaters will push the exhaust gases out a vent to the outside.
They will cool outside the unit. These gases are around 300 degrees and need special materials for the venting to withstand the temperatures and not corrode which usually prove to be very expensive.
Option #2 Condensing Tankless Water Heaters
Condensing tankless water heaters – these water heaters extract heat from exhaust gases through different means and produce cooler gases around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These cooling gases produce condensation inside the unit.
The efficiency of the unit goes up because you can use cheaper ventilation materials as the gases are cooler.
By capturing the residual exhaust heat to heat the water, the unit has achieved a higher efficiency. There are factors that need to be taken into account with this unit as it may not always condensate.
Surrounding air temperature and air humidity can affect condensation. Since the exhaust gases have cooled inside the unit, the condensation is now inside the unit as well.
This is where the heat exchanger comes into play. This part must be made of better materials to withstand the corrosive nature of the gases. These are usually made of stainless steel alloy.
The collected condensation needs to be fully neutralized before it can be drained outside. This is usually done by special fertilization or dilution.
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Option #3 Hybrid Tankless Water Heaters
Hybrid tankless water heaters – these water heaters fill that gap by combining the higher hot water output of a tank heater with the endless heating capacity of a tankless.
And in recent years, manufacturers have introduced different variations on the theme.
What the hybrids have in common, though, is that unlike tankless heaters, they use the same gas and venting hookups as a conventional tanks.
Some hybrid tankless water heaters have been known to pump out upwards of 180 gallons an hour. That’s a lot of hot water!
If you require any assistance in selecting and finalizing the tankless water heater that best suits your needs or want to know more about your options, contact our customer service staff, they will take pleasure in guiding you.
Fox Valley Plumbing and Backflow provides installation and repair services most top brands. Our team is capable of handling most service request with various tankless water heater brands and models.
Need to arrange for a repair, installation or need assistance in choosing a tankless water heater, Fox valley Plumbing and Backflow is just a call away.
You can call our main customer service number located in the top right corner of this webpage.
You can also contact us by filling out the online request form available to the right of this page.
Provide us with your name, email, contact number, model number, zip code, and problem description and you will have our technician call back directly ASAP.
Customer satisfaction is our topmost priority, and we ensure you receive second to none service. Quality satisfaction guaranteed…
Call Us Today (847) 624-3872
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To Talk With A Tankless Water Heater Specialist
Call Us At (847) 624-3872
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Call Us At (847) 624-3872
The New Year is here again.
Some of us are we are thinking about our New Year’s resolutions. The usual promises to eat better and shed some pounds. Well how about saving some money this year with some plumbing resolutions as well?
All home owners know maintaining good care of your investment will pay off in a multitude of ways specifically in regards to your home or business’s plumbing.
It’s sometimes easy to forget that the plumbing works all day. This makes it susceptible to problems. Don’t call the plumber if you don’t have to in the New Year!
Add a few plumbing resolutions to your list and don’t worry about your plumbing in 2019.
Your garbage disposal is not a garbage can – Though it does say the word garbage, trust us, all garbage is not for your garbage disposal. Promise yourself to properly dispose of food waste in the New Year. It will save you a few hundred dollars in the end.
Take Charge – A lot of times a minor leak or clogged pipe or drain can turn into a real pain. Pay very close attention to all things that don’t seem right, loud sounds, water that doesn’t get hot or stays too hot, water squirting or a change in the color of your faucet water.
These small hazards will not stay small. They often end up being expensive emergency calls.
Get new appliances if possible – Are some of your appliances 7, 10 or even 15 years old?
Appliances at the end of their shelf lives can cause more problems then they are worth. Invest now and save later. A busted water heater can turn into a flood real fast in a hurry.
Having a good functioning water system means fewer chances of issues that will cause emergency hazards in the future.
TIP: Consider ENERGY STAR labelled products as they will be more energy efficient, saving you some cash on your total energy bill.
Talk To A Professional Like Us– If you have any questions or concerns about your home or business’s plumbing system, having an expert like Fox Valley Plumbing & Backflow in Elgin Illinois to come for an inspection to make sure everything is running properly and efficiently will give you a peace of mind.
In 2019 and for years to come whenever you have a plumbing problem you cannot or don’t want to solve yourself, Call 847-624-3872 and we’ll take if from there.
Happy New Year…
Call Us At (847) 624-3872
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