Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Hot Water Heater Replacement Guidelines

By Brian Winters


Without a doubt, water heaters are helpful in every household. Your heating system produces enough hot water used for bathing or cleaning up. However, since it is installed in a room where somebody rarely enters in, performing maintenance is neglected until it completely breaks down. When this happens, you're left with no choice but to replace the entire unit. Do not hesitate to call a specialist to help you choose the best unit for your hot water needs.

It is best to buy a unit with the same heating source with your old tank. Doing this saves you more time and money as you're already used to operating that kind of water heater. If you want to change the heating source, do your research to be aware of the implications and costs of buying a new unit.

Inspect the new water heater thoroughly to avoid encountering issues in the long run. Always make sure the pipe fittings match the unit's opening. Making new connections are easy but these may affect the pipes that handle the correction. Attach a pipe or union connector to install the water source tube properly.

To avoid fatal accidents, turn off the heating source of your water heater before installing or maintaining it. Make sure there are no water puddles, rust and dirt around the area where you install the new unit. When it's time to install the fittings, it helps wrapping a Teflon tape around the threading to prevent water from leaking. Do not forget that electric water heaters and gas-fired units use different fittings for them to operate properly.

Consider the size and capacity of the new unit to make sure it meets your hot water needs. Buy a larger tank if the occupants of your household often use warm water. It is better to buy an electric water heater if electricity is cheaper than gas in your area. However, if your residence does have gas supply, then you're stuck with buying an electric unit.

To help cut back on your energy bill, choose a water heater that has a higher Energy Factor rating. This label gives you information how much it consumes energy and the costs it incurs in a year. Nowadays, there are a lot of energy-efficient water heaters that are out in the market. A unit with a longer warranty is usually more durable than a unit with a shorter warranty.

To ensure your unit will work properly, always ask a professional to install it. This is to protect your family from danger, especially since a water heater can convert into a dangerous appliance if not installed correctly. Letting the professional replace the water heater avoids voiding the warranty and violating the city codes at the same time. Besides, replacing a water heater while your life is on the line is definitely not the best idea.

If you think it's expensive to buy a water heater rather than carrying out frequent repairs, think again. You'll be surprised how much energy you can save by buying a more efficient heating system. Costly repairs can be too much of an inconvenience, especially if you keep on having cold waters in the morning. Always inspect your water heater regularly to detect early signs of damage. Doing this protects the walls and floors of your house, preventing molds and mildew to develop. Ask assistance from a specialist to handle all your water heater concerns in no time.




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