One our specialties at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. is installing and servicing gas tankless water heaters. We’ve written before about the advantages of choosing to have a tankless system instead of a standard storage tank unit. But we would like to go a bit more in-depth about what exactly a tankless water heater is. Customers are often confused by the idea of a tankless system, since most people grow up around conventional water heaters that use a large tank to store water and keep it at a continuous high temperature.
Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Water Heaters’ Category
What Is a Tankless Water Heater, Really?
Monday, September 7th, 2015Help! I’m Not Getting Any Hot Water in My House!
Monday, August 24th, 2015Among the emergency service calls that we receive the most frequently are for when a house suddenly has no hot water at all. Losing the hot water in your home is obviously a serious problem, since it makes numerous ordinary tasks very difficult—especially keeping clean. (Nobody wants to wake up in the morning and start off the day with an ice-cold shower.)
Signs That You Should Call for Repairs for Your Tankless Water Heater
Monday, August 17th, 2015Tankless water heaters are one of the best ways to provide hot water to a household. The benefits of these systems are numerous: They consume far less energy than conventional storage tank systems. They won’t run out of hot water because they always heat up more water “on demand.” They have lengthy service lives. They take up a small amount of space. And so on.
4 Reasons Why Water Heater Repair Is Everything
Monday, July 6th, 2015A water heater from a quality manufacturer that received a professional installation should work for many years without requiring major repairs. To help prevent crippling issues, it should also have annual maintenance sessions from experts to see that it stays free from corrosion, loss of power, the development of sediment in its tank, and other potential setbacks.
3 Benefits of Hybrid Water Heaters
Monday, June 22nd, 2015The technology behind water heaters has advanced a significant way since the only type of water heater available was a storage tank system. The standard storage tank water heater is still around and can still do an effective job for a home. However, if you are in the market for a new water heater, you should know about some of the newer types of models available, such as a hybrid water heater.
Why Am I Receiving Less Hot Water in My Home Than I Once Did?
Monday, June 1st, 2015If you have lived with the same water heater in your home for long enough, you will have a good idea of the volume of heated water you can expect to receive from it. The usual test of this is during the morning, when multiple people take showers. If you start to notice that the hot water supply from your storage water heater is running out sooner than it used to, there are a number of possible problems that could be causing it. Repairs can fix some of these malfunctions; in other cases, it may be better to have the whole water heater replaced, especially if it is a few years over its manufacturer’s estimated lifespan.
How the Anode Rod Protects Your Water Heater
Monday, May 18th, 2015One of the major dangers for any metal appliance that comes into contact with water is corrosion. This chemical reaction when water meets metal in the presence of oxygen will rapidly weaken the metal to the point that it flakes away. Yet water heaters—large metal appliances that are in constant contact with water—very rarely develop rust until the end of their services lives.
New Water Heater Standards Go into Effect April 16
Tuesday, March 31st, 2015Big changes are coming for water heaters this month: The U.S. Department of Energy has created a new mandate for residential water heater efficiency standards that will go into effect on April 16, 2015. This mandate will require a higher energy factor on all almost all residential gas, electric and tankless water heater systems. Our team at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) would like to share this important information with you and explain how it may affect your future water heater needs, service and installations.
What is “energy factor”?
Energy factor, or EF, is how efficiently a water heater converts the power sent to it into actual hot water. The higher the EF, the less energy is lost in the process. EF is listed as a fraction of a hundred, so a water heater with 0.85 EF converts 85% of its energy into hot water, and loses 15%. If you do not know what the EF of your current water heater is, contact a professional.
What are the new regulations?
The Department of Energy’s new mandate is a result of the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA), and it restricts manufacturers from producing new units that do not live up to the new standards. The majority of water heaters must have higher EF than previous: each type of water heater has a different regulation change.
How this will affect your home’s water heater
Although the restrictions prohibit manufacturers from producing water heaters that do not meet the new standards, contractors can still buy and install already existing water heaters after April 16. As a consumer, you do not have to stop using your current water heater if it does not meet the requirements. You can continue with maintenance as usual, and you regular technicians will still be allowed to handle routine inspections, adjustments, and repairs.
However, we strongly advise that you begin to think about your next water heater installation and how these new regulations will affect it. The long-term benefits of the new regulations include helping you save energy and seeing that your water heater has increased performance over its lifespan. The experts at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) will be glad to help you navigate the new regulations and locate a water heater type that will match both your budget and your water heater needs.
Modern does have a limited stock of the 65 and 80 gallon electric heaters that will no longer be manufactured after April 16. If you currently have a 30-50 gallon electric lowboy heater the new models may not fit in your existing space. Once again we have some of these heaters in stock but they will not last long.
What to Consider before Water Heater Installation
Wednesday, March 25th, 2015When it’s time for a new water heater it can be a bit stressful, especially if your older unit has broken down. Without any hot water, you may be tempted to let any technician into your home to remove the older unit and find a suitable replacement. But be aware: the water heater you purchase now may break down too soon or raise your bills significantly if you don’t have the right type of system for your home—and the right company for the job.
The Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) team will invest time in measuring your home, discussing your needs, and helping you to find the water heater that is best for everyone involved. Schedule water heater installation in Sanford, FL with one of our plumbers if you want friendly service from a name you can trust.
Things to keep in mind
Before you schedule water heater installation, there are a few things that you should know about water heaters.
- An oversized or undersized system can be problematic. Make sure the technician is informed of your family’s hot water usage habit. A water heater that is too small may not get the job done, and a unit that is too big will use up a lot of energy over the years.
- Affordable systems may actually cost you over time. Many homeowners feel that it’s important to save money initially when selecting a new water heater. However, inexpensive units are not usually as energy efficient as some of their competitors, and you’ll end up paying more in your monthly energy or utility bills. Select an ENERGY STAR rated water heater for optimal efficiency.
- A tankless unit may be right for you. You may have heard that tankless water heaters use up less energy, as these heat up water instantly rather than storing hot water for later use. A tankless water heater is not right for every home, but it could be just what your family needs.
- You can also install a hybrid heat pump water heater. You can also choose a hybrid heat pump water heater, one of the most efficient units out there because of its ability to move heat from place to place rather than generate it.
Call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) to further discuss your options for our professional water heater installation service in Sanford, FL with one of our trained professionals today.
Hidden Problems that Could Affect Your Water Heater
Wednesday, March 4th, 2015The way your water heater operates is actually rather simplistic. Hot water naturally rises over cold water, which has a higher density, and the design of a storage tank water heater takes advantage of this. Water heats up at the bottom of the tank as it enters and then rises to the top where it returns to your pipes after it exits through a small tube located at the top. Despite the relatively simple operation of this unit, it can still run into some common problems without the proper maintenance.
A tankless water is a little bit more complex, as a computer alerts the unit when to turn on and off. But tankless units can run into some of the same issues that storage tanks do. When you notice any of the following problems with your system, call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) for water heater repair. And be sure to call regularly for maintenance to prevent such trouble from occurring.
- Rust – Unfortunately, rust often means that you need to replace your water heater. Rust leads to corrosion, and a leak in your water heater would be disastrous. However, sometimes, only one or two parts need replacement. Rust can afflict both a tankless or storage tank water heater, but yearly maintenance can help to prevent it.
- Mineral Buildup – A large percentage of homes have a problem with “hard water.” Hard water means that there is an excess of minerals in the water, which can affect your plumbing system and your water heater. When too many minerals are in the tank, they can block the pipes and increase the pressure, leading to dangerous conditions in the tank. Technicians will flush the tank and may recommend a water softener for your water supply.
- Improper Sizing – Another problem common to water heaters that sometimes leads to an early demise is improper sizing. Do you assume that running out of hot water quickly is a normal part of owning a water heater? It shouldn’t be. This often means that your water heater is too small. You may need a larger tank to get the heating you need, or you may need an additional tankless unit.
Call on the friendly folks at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) for water heater repair in Casselberry or for an annual maintenance visit.