You need hot water more in the winter than any other time of year. The last thing you want is for your water heater to fail in the winter and leave you without hot water for your morning shower. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your heater and help it run strong throughout the winter.

Consider the Heater’s Location
If your heater is in the main house in a closet or heated basement, then you won’t have to worry about it freezing. However, the cooler temperature in a garage or unheated crawlspace can leave water heaters struggling. The structure around the water heater can be warmed up marginally with better weather stripping and possibly insulation. It’s also wise to wrap the heater in a special insulating blanket to reduce heat loss and help if function better.

Line Distance is Important
The longer you have to wait for hot water to arrive at your shower, the further this fixture is from your water heater. As water travels through the lines, it loses heat and that forces your heater to work harder. In addition to wrapping the water heater itself, consider wrapping any long runs of hot water pipes to improve efficiency and prolong the life of your heater. Special wraps are available from your local home improvement store.

In addition to wrapping the pipes, a recirculating pump will also help you save money on hot water. A pump like the Grundfos Comfort System allows you to move cold water through the line, so you only receive water once it is hot and ready to enjoy. The average home saves more than 11,000 gallons of water a year with these systems. That's enough water to fill a 14-foot by 30-foot swimming pool, so you should add one of these to your wish list.

Check the Dip Tube
Hot water heaters work by delivering cold water to the bottom of the tank through a dip tube, warming the water and allowing it to rise to the top for use. If the dip tube is cracked, then cold water will invade the hot water space at the top and leave you dealing with tepid showers. The good news is that the dip tube is replaceable in many models, so you may not actually need a new heater.

Don’t wait for your water heater to break down and leave you with cold water this winter. All About the Pipes Plumbing, Inc. can check your system for damaged dip tubes, defective thermostats and other common problems. With the right inspection and repairs, you can rest assured that you won’t run out of hot water this winter.

 

Have you ever wondered what a tank less water heater actually is? Do you ever wonder how it could be a water heater if it has no tank? Or, why would I want a tank less water heater? Why is it better than the traditional models?

The tank less water heater is the newest technology available for the heating of your household water. It is a green technology with efficiency ratings of 98%. This is 40% more efficient than your standard tank models available today. The tank less water heater produces considerably less CO2 and NOx than the conventional gas or electric tank water heaters. Still not convinced? The tank less water heater produces hot water on demand. It is a small compact unit that uses minimal electric, natural gas or propane as their fuel source the same sources as your tank style heater. It will continue to produce unlimited hot water as long as there is a demand. Multiple appliances and back to back showers can be taken at the same time without a loss of hot water. Not so with the traditional. You can expect, depending on the size of the unit, anywhere from 2 to 19.5 gallons of hot water per minute to be produced from the tank less water heater.

A typical tank style water heater averages 40-100 gallons and must maintain the water at a constant temperature. As the water is used it is replaced with cold water that must be brought up to temperature and maintained. Thus the tank style water heater works constantly. It is the single largest user of energy in a home. Traditional water heaters require a considerable amount of valuable floor space in a home. Their life expectancy is on average 10-12 years and most have a warranty of 6 years. A tank style water heater often has issues with leaks, elements or gas burner assemblies that result in costly repairs or worse major damage to ones home.

A tank less water heater has a life expectancy of 20 years. Warranties range from 12-20 years on a tank less. This is considerably better than the tank style. While the initial cost to install a tank less is more than the traditional style heater the energy savings and warranties make up the difference. The tank less is a compact and attractive unit. It would compare in size to that of an electrical panel box. With the compact size comes versatility. A tank less can be located most anywhere it can be vented in a home as well as an exterior installation. This will allow you to reclaim that valuable floor space and never have to worry again if a leaking water heater will flood your home.

Because this is such a valuable technology in the saving of our resources and reducing the carbon footprint there are several credits and rebates available to individuals installing a tank less water heater.