What symptoms show that my water heater needs professional repair?

The water heater is the most expensive part of your plumbing system, and this is why it’s important to take care of. A lot of the problems are pretty easy to fix, but sometimes you’ll need professional repair. So, how do you know your water heater needs professional repair done?

One thing to look out for is temperature problems. Meaning, if the water is too hot or isn’t hot enough. Usually, this problem is pretty easy to fix, but sometimes if you’re having trouble with usage or water quality professionals are needed. This is because water heaters, like anything else, get worn out if you use them very often. So, if you have a large family, your water quality will decrease. And, sometimes mineral buildup will clog the plumbing lines. If this happens to you, you’ll need a professional to come and replace your water heater.

Another symptom that your water heater needs professional repair is simply age. In fact, if you live in an old house with an even older water heater, even common problems are signs you need a new one. So, if your water heater is noisy, can’t produce hot water, isn't consistent, and is over 20 years old it’s probably time to get a new water heater. Most water heaters come with a 10-year warranty, so it’s safe to assume your water heater will last that long. However, anything over that time will probably need a professional repair.

Finally, leaking is the most important symptom to look for in your water heater. This is because there is no fix for a leaking hot water tank, so it’s not something you can fix yourself. So, if you see any water around your water heater, you need to call a professional right away. In fact, if you don’t replace your leaking water heater immediately, you risk flooding and water damage to your home. If you watch out for these symptoms, you’ll know when it’s time to get a professional plumbing professional to help you and your family.

Is your bathroom in need of a full repipe? Call The Water Heater Medic today at (860) 896-3342 for the best services in Vernon! 

Electric Versus Gas Water Heaters

There are two types of water heaters that are generally used inside a household: gas and electric. While both provide hot water to the home they do so in different ways. A gas water heater requires the use of natural gas. It heats the water up by burning the gas in a covered burner which is located at the base of the heater.

Depending on your location, you may not have the option of using natural gas. In this case, an electric water heater will likely be used. The electric water heater uses household electricity through the use of electric resistance coils to heat the water and pump it into the home.

Which heater to use depends largely on personal preference, family size, and available energy resources. Generally, a gas heater can heat a tank of water faster than an electric heater. If you have a large family, you may want to consider a gas unit because an electric heater may have a hard time keeping up with the demand for hot water. Also, in the case of a power outage, a gas unit will still provide hot water to the home. Over the life of the unit, gas water heaters are more cost effective because gas is cheaper to use than electricity.

Some people may not like the idea of there being an open flame inside their heater and will opt for an electric water heater instead. Electric units are considered to be more energy efficient. They may also have a longer lifespan but this is largely dependent on owner maintenance and even local water quality.

Overall both units are similarly priced. If a gas line is present in the home, a gas water heater will be the cheaper option over the life of the unit. However, if you want to switch from electric to gas, it can be a pricey endeavor especially if it requires the installation of a gas line and exhaust fan.

Is your Vernon home in need of a water heater installation? Call The Water Heater Medic today at (860) 896-3342 for immediate solutions!

Upgrading your water heater

When should I upgrade my water heater? The obvious answer is " When it breaks." With almost all households have a warranty on large appliances there is not much reason to repair an old tank that is likely out of date and will break again fairly soon. There are also other times you should look into a new water heater. A water heater is sometimes a covered expense under home warranties for new homes or possibly a homeowner's insurance policy. If it's not, that's okay, it still makes sense to invest in something better since you use hot water every day.

You should upgrade your water heater if you run out of hot water more than once a week. This may be because your old heater is too small or it cannot keep the temperature steady like it used too. If you have tried setting the temperature higher, but the hot water runs out anyway, get a heater 20-30 gallons bigger than the current one. If your 60 gallon tank was acceptable for a family of three, a 80 gallon would be good for a family of four.

You should upgrade your water heater if you want one which is more energy efficient. No one says you must go all out and replace the whole system. But a water tank with better insulation will make it easier to keep your hot water at your preferred setting. It will also shorten the time to reheat water when the supply runs low. Getting an upgrade to a geothermal water heater will save you thousands over the life time of the equipment so strongly consider this environmentally friendly option. If you live in a very sunny area, there are several solar water heaters you may be interested in.

You should upgrade your water heater if you notice signs yours will be failing soon. Signs like leaks, rusting, longer heating cycles or the heater making funny noises. Examine your hot water as it comes out. If it smells very strong, has a mineral taste, looks rusty or cloudy you may have internal parts corroding.

Is your Vernon home in need of water heater services? Call The Water Heater Medic today at (860) 896-3342 for top-notch services! 

Lifespans of Different Water Heaters

Water heaters are an essential item in homes as well as businesses. Technology has caught up with the standard cylinder sized, six foot tall, tank that took up one quarter of the basement in the typical residential home. Modern homes as well as existing homes are now turning to tankless water heaters. These tankless heaters take up a fraction of the size of the standard tank water heater. Normally wall mounted, the home or business owner will find additional space now freed up in their home or office. The tankless units also can run on electricity, gas and even solar power.

The primary feature between the two units is the life span of the two. A tankless unit will last for at least twenty years compared to the traditional unit which will last only about half the same period, twelve if maintenance is kept up. The traditional units also have a history of needing more frequent repairs.

While maintenance plays a major role in the life span of a water heater, it does pay to research various models currently on the market. While the science behind water heaters has not change substantially for the traditional tank units, manufacturers have improved the overall performance of their product which have required fewer repairs than in previous years.

To make your existing water heater last longer, one should set the temperature dial setting down on the heater so the reading is between 115 and 120 degrees fahrenheit. This setting protects the water heater tank from overheating. This reduces the energy required to heat the water in the tank.

Test the "temperature and pressure relief valve" by lift the lever to the valve up and letting it snap back. One should hear the sound of gurgling water as it drains in to the water tube. If there was no sound then the valve needs to be replaced.

To prevent rust one needs to remove sediment from the tank. Placing a bucket under the drain valve and release a gallon or two into the bucket. This flushes out any sediment.

Is your Vernon home in need of a new water heater? Call The Water Heater Medic at (860) 896-3342 for the best services in your area! 

How To Handle A Water Heater Emergency

Most homeowners realize that as time progresses there are bound to be a few issues along the way, such as a water heater emergency. Water heaters are essential in many homes, especially in the winter months when temperatures can drop below freezing in some locations. Having hot water available in all times is a luxury that many homeowners take for granted until an issue arises. If you experience a water heater emergency, you may be stressed and unable to fix the problem on your own. Why go through this emergency all on your own? There are plenty of reliable and proficient water heater specialists who are able to fix your water heater issue quickly and efficiently.

When most individuals think about a water heater emergency or any related crisis, they are concerned about the cost that it will take to fix the problem, which is completely understandable. You want to make sure you are getting the issue corrected at a fair price by a company who knows what they are doing. After all, a water heater is something your family desires and utilizes often in your home, you will want it fixed as soon as possible!

But where can you find a business that you can trust with your water heater emergency? Oftentimes, information about plumbing service companies and water heater specialists can be found as quick as the click of a mouse on your computer. You can simply check out plumbing companies in your area and see what we have to offer, including qualifications, special certifications, and issues that we specialize in correcting. This will make you feel more comfortable when deciding to go with a company for your needs. You can also choose to utilize and read real customer reviews about their experience and quality of the work performed.

Overall, experiencing a water heater emergency may feel like the end of the world, but it doesn't have to be! Call a certified water heater specialist and start correcting the problem. You don't have to go this problem alone, hire a technician today.

Call The Water Heater Medic today at (860) 896-3342 if you're having a plumbing emergency in Vernon. We have immediate solutions for your situation!

Differences between a traditional water heater and tankless

If you are looking to upgrade the current water heater in your home, you have two basic options. The first is to purchase the same, traditional water heater you probably have been using, and a tankless water heater. There are many different features between these two kinds of water heaters, so before you make any sort of purchase, you need to look at the equipment and determine what works for you.

Price

A tankless water heater is going to cost substantially more than what a regular water heater cost. You might pay only a few hundred dollars on a regular water heater while a tankless whiter heater can cost above one thousand dollars. However, there are good reasons as to why the tankless water heater costs more.

Efficiency

While traditional water heaters have become more efficient over the years, tankless water heaters are going to save you a significant amount of money over the life of the tank. In fact, you are going to save far more in water consumption over the next decade than what you would spend additionally on the tankless water heater. The tankless heater does not require you to heat up an entire tank of water before sending it to the necessary faucet. Instead, it only requires the water to pass through the heating system of coils built into the tank, which ensures you do not have to continually heat and reheat water that you may or may not use.

Heat

With a traditional water heater, it can take a few minutes for the water to heat up and, with a larger family, you might run out of hot water if several people take showers in a row. Thankfully though, with the tankless water heater, this is not a problem at all. As there is no tank for the water, the water that pass through the system is instantly heated, so you never again have to worry about running out of hot water. This is an excellent investment for those with larger families and use a good deal of hot water throughout the course of a day.

Looking into different water heaters for your Vernon property? Call The Water Heater Medic today at (860)896-3342 for a water heater installation!

Tips on Properly Maintaining The Water Heater in Your Home

One of the hardest working appliances in your home is the hot water heater. This unit needs to make sure that water is heated and ready at a seconds notice. To be able to keep water heated continuously day and night the hot water heater is working all the time. This is why they usually are the first plumbing appliance to break down, but when you can spot some signs of trouble you can help extend that life a while longer. Here are some tips to properly maintaining the water heater in your home.

The first sign of trouble with a hot water heater is when the water takes much longer to get warm then it used to. The water may never get completely hot, which is an indication that the heating elements need to be inspected. Our team of professional plumbers can quickly determine if the heating elements are failing and can be replaced during that inspection. A water heater repair will help to extend the life of the hot water heater.

The next thing you can do to keep your heating unit running efficiently is pay close attention to the color and the smell of the water in your home. When you see the water turning a brownish color or smelling like rotten eggs, it might be a good time to call your local plumbing professional. The hot water tank often traps many different sediments that it removes from the water and holds them it the bottom of the tank. When the deposits begin to accumulate too quickly, they can cause the unit to not process the water properly and those deposits will effect the water that exits the unit. When you contact our team of plumbers, we can quickly drain and flush the hot water heater to remove all the deposits from the bottom of the tank. The sooner this flush is performed the better.

The hot water heater should not be making any noises other than the normal heating and processing of water. When you hear noises like gravel turning in a steel drum, this could be an early warning sign the unit is about to fail Call your plumber and let them do a complete maintenance check on the unit.

Are you in need of water heater services in Vernon? Contact The Water Heater Medic today at (860) 896-3342 for the best services around! 

5 Reasons to Consider Installing A Tankless Water Heater In Your Home

The water heater in your home consumes more energy than any other appliance. The reason being it is running all day and night to ensure hot water is available the instant you need it. Tankless water heaters are gaining in popularity for a number of beneficial reasons for the homeowner. Here are five reasons to consider installing a tankless water heater in your home.

1. The tankless water heater only heats water as it is needed. This way the system is not running all the time and will save you a significant amount of money in your utility bills each year.

2. The tankless water heater will not be running day and not so it will last much longer. There are very few parts to this type of system, and they will last the homeowner longer resulting in having to replace the system not as often as a traditional heater with a tank.

3. Unlike a traditional hot water heater with a large tank, these tankless systems do not require that much space to operate. They can be installed on the wall in a garage or inside the laundry room of the house. This allow you to have more space in your garage for other necessities.

4. Because the tankless hot water only runs when you need the hot water, the parts wear down much slower. This means you will not need to hire a professional plumber to come out to do preventative maintenance work on the system during the year. The parts will wear down much slower and require less if any maintenance checks.

5. The water that comes from a traditional hot water can sit in that large tank for a significant period of time. In that time it comes in contact with sediments that have built up from years of use. That contaminated water then enters the home unless it is filtered. The tankless system does not require storing any water so when it enters your home it is much cleaner and has a much better taste to it.

Are you in the market for a new tankless water heater for your Vernon home? Call The Water Heater Medic at (860) 896-3342 and get started today!

3 Signs your water heater needs maintenance

There are a couple of signs that will let you know that your hot-water tank needs some sort of maintenance. Many people see these signs and think that they have to go out and buy a brand-new tank and most of the time they are wrong. Most of the problems that happen with water heaters are minor, and a professional can get it fixed in no time at all because they know exactly what to look for.

After several years of wear and tear on your tank, you may begin to notice cloudy water coming out of your faucet. This typically only happens when you are running your hot water for dishes or running bath water. Most likely, the professional will notify you that there has been some sediment that has built up on the bottom of your tank. The technician can get it cleaned up for you quickly and have your water running clear again in no time at all.

A hot-water tank should heat up fairly quickly, and if you notice that it is starting to take longer to heat up, this may be a sign that one or two of the elements need to be replaced.

Lastly, if the water is not getting hot like it has in the past, your top element on the tank may need to be replaced by a technician. Basically, when the bottom element is working you will only be provided with lukewarm water.

It is necessary to make sure that you get an annual maintenance on your hot-water tank. This will save you from costly repairs in the future and possibly having to replace your entire unit. When you notice a problem, call in a professional and get it taken care of in a timely manner. Most companies offer emergency service and will come out and fix your problem that very same day!

Is the water heater in your Vernon home in need of maintenance? Call us at (860) 896-3342 and schedule a service call today!

3 signs your water heater needs a tune up

A hot water heater is a very important appliance in the home that you may not give much though to, until you have a problem. There are some different options for a hot water heater problem and this can include fixing the issue, or replacing the unit entirely.

The first thing that many people notice is that even though the temperature is set on a high level on the water heater, the water is not getting hot enough. This is often noticed in the shower and you may not feel as though you do not have enough hot water to complete a full shower. This can be a sign that there is something wrong with the heater, and a repair needs to be made. You may even notice that there is no hot water coming out of the tank, and this may require something like a new heating element.

You should not notice any noises coming from your hot water heater. If you find that your water heater is making noises, this can be a signal of a deeper issue. A banging noise can often be heard, as well as a creaking or whining noise. This is not a normal part of having a water heater, and something that a professional should explore.

Water pressure can be another common problem that needs to be addressed. If you are turning on faucets at full force on the hot water side and only getting a trickle of water, this may be a sign that you need to have your hot water heater checked. There may be a simple solution that does not require replacing the entire unit.

Sometimes you will find that there are no repairs that can be made to your hot water heater, and in this case we will often suggest that you replace your tank. A new tank will be one that you will not have any issues with, and they often come with a guarantee. You should always explore all of your options, and we can help provide you with some great solutions for any problem you are experiencing with your hot water tank.

Is the water heater in your Vernon home in need of a tune up? Call us at (860) 896-3342 and schedule a service call today!