For the majority of our on-demand hot water is not an option it’s a necessity. We rely on our water heaters more than you think. With every shower or bath, you take have you ever considered what could happen if they stop working?
Not every water heater is built to last a lifetime and sometimes things can go wrong, and they can break or stop working properly and heating the water that we so desperately need in our showers, kitchens, and homes. By replacing units that are about to reach their expiry dates, you can pre-empt any disruptions from happening in the home.
However, it is not easy to see when this can happen and there are a few things you can look out for to check if the unit is nearing its end of life. If you are living in an old house chances are the boiler or hot water heating system has not been replaced for years. Some of the parts may be worn out and other times, things like cracks or corrosion can occur without you even noticing. For the majority of these, you can expect them to last for at least give or take 10 years.
Knowing how long you have is a proactive action that every homeowner or landlord should take. One way of checking when it was installed or how long it has been on the property is by checking the serial number on the unit itself. If there is no available information, there should be the manufacturer’s details or at least a name on it, and you can access the remaining information from their website where you can find the model’s code umber and verify its age.
How to Tell When A Water Heater is Compromised
There are a few ways to tell if the unit has been compromised, damaged, or corroded.
One of the common ones is if the water from your shower or taps is running on the cooler side as opposed to being hot, or if it is running out faster than it was previously, it could be a sign of damage. The heating element in a unit is responsible for keeping the water hot, and cool when needed.
If it is the case of the element malfunctioning or stopping to work either you or a professional can replace this. It is highly recommended to hire an expert to do this as it can be a messy and dangerous job, especially because you will be working with electrical wiring and other unknown aspects.
If you are fixing it or replacing it yourself, make sure you know how to go about doing this first before attempting anything. This basic guide on this website can show you how. Always make sure you turn off the power before you touch anything.
To tell if the power has been turned off and the element is not in working progress anymore, turn on the faucets and wait till the water runs cold on the hot adjustment. You will most likely need to drain the tank before doing anything on it. Knowing what type of system your house has can do better than harm. There are a few different types as we look at them below.
Different Types of Water Heaters
Indirect water heaters or Tankless coils: which use a buildings heating system to make the water hot
Heat pumps: these are created to move heat from one place of the unit to another instead of producing heat straight from them to provide hot water
Tankless heaters: these types can heat water directly once switched on, instead of using a storage tank
The Conventional storage water heaters: these have a reservoir or water tank which collects hot water in it, also known as storage tanks
The last one is the Solar heater: which, like most solar appliances, uses the heat from the sunlight to turn cold water into hot water. This is possibly the most energy efficient of all types, as well as belonging to the “green” living option.
If you are getting yours replaced, there are a few things you should look at when purchasing the right one for your home.
Availability, fuel type, and cost: depending on the fuel type you use, it will directly affect the month-end electricity bills, so if you’re going for something cost-effective you can choose one of the below mentioned options:
- Electricity
- Fuel oil
- Natural gas
- Geothermal
- Propane
- Solar energy
The Size of the tank or unit is imperative: depending on the size of the household and available space, this system can provide for both large and small families. If it is a large family a bigger tank would be needed or several smaller ones throughout the home to provide a sufficient amount of hot water to everyone.
Ask yourself if it is energy efficient? Knowing how energy efficient one is, will help save costs and be environmentally friendlier, so you will be doing your bit for the environment. Your options are to use a renewable energy one like a solar heating system.
The most important is to fit within your budget – How much would it cost? Another thing to help you decide is the overall cost of the appliance, as well as the installation costs. Companies such as waterhearsonly.ca: hot water heater installation can give you an estimate once the team has made an assessment of the property and where it should go. If it is your first time it is always best not to mess around with these appliances and get someone of the right skills and know-how to install a new one for you, or repair it if need be.
Before you purchase one from anywhere, speak to the experts in the field, and they may give you the best advice on the most cost-effective option. After all, having these experts on speed dial if something goes wrong is not a bad idea, to keep everyone at home happy with a continuous supply of hot water!
