Most of us have grown up with a standard tank type water heater.  As such we are used to the way our hot water system works.  Switching to a tankless water heater will have an affect on the way your hot water system works.

With a tank type heater, when you turn on a hot water faucet, the hot water, typically 140 degrees, immediately begins flowing through the pipe to get to your faucet.  As the water travels through the cold pipe, it cools off until the piping material warms up.  That is why your hot water doesn’t instantly go from cold to hot; it has to warm up the pipes first. 

Many homes have hot water circulating systems that circulate the hot water through the pipes to obtain instant hot water at every sink.  Circulating systems can save a lot of water.  They are wasteful of energy though, since the water heater will fire up more often to replace the heat being lost through the piping which acts like a big radiator even if the pipes are well insulated. 

There are also pumping systems that pump the hot water to the fixture from the heater only when you want to use hot water and you don’t run any water down the drain. You still save the water and time, but you don’t waste water.

Tankless Systems

Tankless water heaters are being promoted as providing endless hot water and as being energy saving over traditional water heaters.  While both of these facts are true, there are other things to consider.

If you are considering replacing your tank type water heater with a tankless unit, and you have a typical house, make sure you get one large enough to do the job.  Since you are heating water as you use it, you must heat it much more quickly than a tank type heater so you need to add heat much more quickly. 

For a gas type heater this means you will be using a lot more gas volume/ minute than with a tank type heater.  Your exhaust flue will need to be much larger and the gas line might need to be larger. For electric units you might have to have special wiring put in to handle the high amperage loads created by a large electric tankless water heater.

With a tank type water heater you can set the flow rate to anything you want from full-on to just a trickle.  With a tankless water heater there is a minimum flow rate required to turn the heater on.  Typically it ranges from about ½ gallons per minute to ¾ gallons per minute.  So you can’t get just a trickle of hot water. 

Most circulating systems don’t pump at a high enough flow rate to turn on the tankless water heaters.  If they do, they will void or restrict most warranties, because they will cause frequent on-off cycles for the heater.

Changes in your water temperature from winter to summer will impact the tankless heater.  The tank type heater always heats your water to the same temperature.  The tankless units increase the temperature a certain number of degrees with a given flow rate. 

For example, if your incoming water temperature in the summer is 60 degrees, and your heater raises the temperature 80 degrees at a flow of 1 gallon per minute, you have a hot water temperature of 140 degrees.  If your incoming water drops to 50 degrees in the winter, your top temperature will drop to 130 degrees.  And don’t forget, as you increase the flow rate the temperature rise will drop.

To fully heat the hot water, the cold water entering the water heater must pass all the way through the water heater.  This means that it will take longer to get your hot water than with a tank type heater, and you will run more water down the drain.

The water conservation issue can be resolved with a “demand” type hot water system. Demand hot water pumps pump the hot water from the heater to the fixture without running water down the drain. The pump only runs for a short time, usually less than a minute, and thus only consumes about .00 per year in electricity costs for a typical family. A demand pump will get your hot water to your fixture about twice as fast as normal and you won’t waste any water. Demand pumps can be found for less than 0.00 and are very easy to install.

Tankless water heaters can save you a modest amount of energy, typically around .00 - .00 a month. Since tankless units are more expensive than tank type water heaters, and more expensive to install, that savings may not be so great. They can also provide you with endless supply of hot water. However, forget getting a trickle of hot water, be prepared to wait a little longer, and adjust to having the temperature vary with the flow rate.

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Water Heaters
Choosing the right water heater for you

Tankless or regular water heater?

Tankless water heaters are becoming more popular these days. They are more expensive and more expensive to service, but the advantages of a tankless can make the price seem reasonable. The tankless will never run out of hot water. Gas tankless water heaters are the most efficient.

A regular water heater will be cheaper, but your hot water will be limited. The regular water heater is an Energy Star product so it will be efficient, just not as efficient as a tankless unit.

What size should I get?

If you are removing a current water heater, you should not replace it with anything smaller that what you pulled out. When deciding what size water heater to put in, you have to consider use and amount of people living in the household. If you have a family of four or less, a 40 gallon water heater should be fine. If you have more people or if you use a lot of hot water, then I suggest going bigger.

Troubleshooting your water heater

Water heaters are generally very reliable but occasionally they do have problems. These problems can include:

No hot water

Possible Causes

Faulty gas pilot
Faulty gas thermocouple
Faulty gas pilot control valve
Faulty electric thermostat
Faulty upper electric heating element

Possible Repairs

Check gas pilot flame and pilot operation.
Re-tighten, reposition or replace the gas thermocouple.
Replace the gas pilot control valve.
Confirm power is being provided to the electric water heater thermostat.
If power is being provided to electric thermostat, replace thermostat or heating element.

Inadequate Hot Water

Possible Causes

Unit is undersized for water heating demands
Broken or damaged dip tube allowing cold and hot water to mix in tank
Faulty plumbing installation has crossed cold and hot water connections
Gas supply or control problems
Faulty electric lower or upper heating element or high or low heating element thermostat.
A constant supply of lukewarm water during a shower is indicative of a defective upper heating element. Short duration hot water supply during a shower is indicative of a defective lower heating element.

Possible Repairs

Make sure water heater is not being overtaxed by hot water supply demands. The water heater should have 75% of its capacity as hot water (e.g., a 40 gallon WH should be used for a demand of 30 gallons). To determine required capacity see Calculating Fixture Flow Rates.
Undo cold water inlet and pipe nipple and remove dip tube. Check condition and replace if required.
Check for crossed connection by turning off water supply to water heater. Open hot water tap at a faucet. If there is water flow, then the a cross connection exists somewhere. Check for a hot water line connected to a cold water connection on the water heater or appliances such as washer, dishwasher, faucet or shower valves.
Check for proper flame from burner. A natural gas flame should be a bright blue with the tip of the flame having just a tinge of yellow. A propane flame should have a bluish green flame with a tinge of yellow at the tip.
Check for power and electrical continuity at the lower and upper heating elements. Replace water heating element if necessary. Clear tank of any sediment first.
If elements test OK, check for power at upper electrical upper thermostat. If OK check lower thermostat. Replace if necessary.

Rust Colored Water

Possible Causes

Corrosion occurring inside glass lined tank
Sacrificial anode rod is failing (anode rods dissolve slowly to prevent rusting in the tank)

Possible Repairs

Replace sacrificial anode rod with magnesium anode rod. Anode rods are available from a plumbing supply house.

Rotten Egg Smell

Possible Causes

Bacteria in the tank sediment fed from hydrogen gas created from decay of sacrificial anode.

Possible Repairs

Flush water heater
Using a hydrogen peroxide solution of 2 pints 3% peroxide to 40 gallons of water, treat tank and run some of the solution into water lines.
Let peroxide solution set in tank and pipes for 2 hours. Solution is not toxic and requires no rinsing.
If problem persists, replace anode with a zinc-alloy anode.
If problem still remains, replace water heater with a plastic lined tank type.

Low Rumbling or Popping Noise

Possible Causes

Noise heard is sound of boiling water. Excessive buildup of sediment in bottom of tank is causing overheating of tank bottom and boiling of water to occur.

Possible Repairs

Remove sediment by flushing water heater.

Higher Pitched Whining (electric water heater)

Possible Causes

Buildup of scale material on electrical heating elements

Possible Repairs

Flush water heater.
Clean scale from water heater tank and elements
Install low-watt density heating elements which have larger surface areas transferring heat to water more efficiently, conducting less electrical wattage per square inch than a standard high-wattage element.

Water Leak Around Base of Heater

Possible Causes

Faulty T&P (temperature and pressure) relief valve
T&P valve leak due to excessive pressure, overheating or stuck
Leak from overhead or nearby plumbing connection
Leaking water tank (corrosion likely)

Possible Repairs

Place bucket under overflow pipe. Open and flush T&P valve clear of debris. If leak remains from valve, replace valve.
Reduce thermostat setting to prevent tank overheating and opening T&P relief valve.
Inspect bottom of tank by looking through combustion chamber. If water marks or heavy rusting is noticed or if water is noticed setting in combustion chamber bottom, then the water heater needs to be replaced.

New episodes return Wednesday, Oct. 7th @ 9pm E/P on Discovery! Check out exclusive footage straight from the MythBusters' own video cameras: dsc.discovery.com Adam and Jamie learn just how much power a water heater under pressure really has. Connect with us on Facebook: facebook.com

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Why go for tankless water heaters, is a query today that many would ask but certainly it is one that would benefit most buyers not only for practicality except for convenience also. There are a couple of things and more which make tankless water heaters more renown today, particularly with the advantages and convenience it provides to customers, which permits it to draw in more fans, more than what shoppers would think as just mere selling hype or fuss.

To more clearly understand the principle behind water heating, it's the thermodynamic process by which a source of energy is accountable for heating water above its common temperature, for that has numerous uses for home and commercial uses. Usually heated water is employed domestically for cleaning, cooking, space heating and bathing, while industrially, heated water and those even converted to steam have numerous uses. Many of us have considered the advantages that tankless water heaters in the market. These are some of the commonest benefits that are frequently said out by satisfied buyers and avid supporters. Tankless water heaters are way more efficient and costs less to power up compared with typical storage water heaters, since it doesn't take too much to warm up a little device like a tankless water heater. Since the device isn't extraordinarily complex and is made of elements that don't need too much space, it can be installed independently from a centralized heating system and works on its own.

Since the device most ordinarily comes in a box, it so follows that it can be easily installed without the troubles of a major installation process by laying pipes and passages. All it needs is a standing water supply and energy source, and the device will do the rest. Unlike typical tank storage and complicated water supply systems, tankless water heaters are far more compact and highly serviceable. This is very practical and handy for pretty much all homes, with no regard for the number of outlets or tankless water heater devices installed within the house. Maintenance- smart, it costs less since it has smaller parts and elements and the householder does not have to wait till the device gets fixed.

Today , service suppliers can simply replace a broken device with a service unit or if still inside guaranty, the device can get replaced by the dealer without too much bother on the costumer. These are but some of many benefits you get and answers the problem of why go for tankless water heaters.

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Water heaters provide a very cost-efficient, safe and energy-efficient way to heat water for almost any kind of application you can imagine. They can be used in a wide variety of circumstances from heating up a shower in your home, providing instant hot water for a commercial coffee urn or generating heat for your entire home. Innovative and ecologically-friendly solar water heaters can also be used to heat up the water in your outdoor pool to a warm, comfortable temperature.

The use of tankless water heaters can reduce your water heating costs by up to 60%. Reduce your energy bill, save water, and money. Enjoy endless hot showers. Our extensive selection of top rated tankless water heaters carries a model for every application.

Tankless water heaters can supply you with hot water almost instantaneously! Depending on where your water heater is located in your home, the hot water may take a while to get to the sink, shower or bathtub. Sometimes it may seem you're waiting for an eternity.

Over Sink Water Heater

Over Sink Water Heater is a simple to install traditional vented over sink water heater. With a neat design and supplied complete with tap and spout, oversink water heater an effective, practical solution whenever time and simplicity are the key priorities. Over Sink Water Heater incorporates a thermal cut-out that can be re-set rather than requiring to be replaced. The unit simply needs to be switched off and it will automatically re-set itself. This feature is particularly useful when the heater is likely to be drained frequently (e.g. when fitted in Portable Buildings)

Under Sink Water Heater

Simple to install and a very low price means you can have hot water anywhere where these is cold water (and an electric supply), instantaneous water heaters use simple electronics to control flow and temperature making them extremely safe, reliable and energy efficient. Undersink water heaters are extremely compact this then provides you with a more usable space within a sink cabinet and makes the units easier to install.

Instant Water Heaters

In a gas-powered instant heater, water flows in a pipe over a burner, heating the water as it goes. The exhaust gas is then vented, as in a traditional heater. In an electric instant water heater, an electric element provides the heat instead of a gas burner.

Instant water heaters are not on all the time. Instead, they turn on only when a flow meter detects that the hot water valve has been turned on and water is flowing through the heater. The flow meter sends a signal that turns on and ignites the gas in a gas heater or turns on the current to the electric element in an electric one. This results in a short delay between the time the water is turned on and the time it is heated and a little bit of water is wasted, but usually not very much.

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Whole House tank less water heater was invented by Maughan who lived in England in the year of 1870s. We know the whole house tank less water heater better as an instant water heater. As the name suggests, this type of water heater makes hot water available without the need for a large tank for storage of hot water. Most of the conventional types of water heaters need several minutes to make storage water hot before using. Besides, the conventional water heater needs a large storage tank to store the heated water. But by using Instant hot water heaters, you can get supply of huge amount of hot water instantly. It doesn't take long for a whole house tank less water heater to heat water.

Many times conventional water heater users become bothered when they feel that they do not have any hot water in the tank and still need more hot water. Further, conventional water heater needs almost half an hour or so to heat the storage water again to make it usable. But you can get as much hot water as you want if you are using an instant hot water heater. You will never run out of hot water if you use instant hot water heaters. As long as you have cold or normal water supply available, you will be able to get hot water from instant hot water heaters. That is why this kind of water heater is also known as On-Demand water heater. You can use hot water in various places in your house, all at the same time, when you use an on-demand water heater.

The most important feature of whole house tank less water heater is that they have no energy loss. Since these heaters do not consume any energy when idle, hence the possibility of energy loss is ruled out. But conventional tank storage system losses heat energy in every fraction of a second. Also, energy efficiency and cost efficiency are two striking features of instant hot water heaters.

The supply of hot water from a whole house tankless water heater is unending. It can deliver 6-7 gallons hot water in every minute. Two adult people can take bath simultaneously as well as consume water for kitchen purpose or washing machines.

In brief, the main feature of instant hot water heaters is that they need no storage tanks. That is why families living in small apartments prefer them since they do not need extra space for storage tanks. Besides, the tankless water heaters will save on your electricity bills for they consume less energy than conventional storage tank water heaters. There are many companies available who produce this kind of heaters. You can also find them at online stores. You just need to take a look over the reviews to judge the trustworthiness of any specific company or brand. Whole house tank less water heater can help you save both time and money.

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Normal water heaters go through a heat and reheat cycle whether or not hot water is needed. This causes one to end up having to pay for water to be heated even if it is not necessary at the time.

If you desire to heat water proficiently, use Rinnai tankless water heater. It heats instantly and gives you abundant and rapid hot water flow in no time. A consumer of a Rinnai Heater pays only for heating water and nothing at all.

On demand water heaters only heat water when it's needed. They can help to save money since they never suffer from standby energy losses. Further, the easily replaceable parts in most Rinnai RC80HPi Tankless Water Heaters give them lengthy service lifetimes, generally lasting more than 15 years.

In contrast, storage water heaters last for much less years. Periodic water heater maintenance significantly extends water heater's life and minimizes the loss of efficiency. Rinnai RC80HPi Tankless Water Heaters have an electric, gas, or propane heating device that is started by the flow of water.

Subsequently after triggering the mechanism, the heater continues to provide a flow of hot water. The highest possible rate of flow at a specific temperature depends on the heater's capacity. Typically speaking, water heaters that are gas operated have much bigger capacities than ones that are electrically powered.

Rinnai RC80HPi Tankless Water Heaters are rated by the way of maximum flow rate at which a desired temperature rise is achieved. Other Unique features are also present which allow the user to specify the delivery temperature. Efficiency is much greater than an comparable tank type water heater simply because standby losses are virtually eliminated in this kind of heater.

The advantage of this kind of heater with respect to the others is that other Electric water heaters have to have a relatively high electric power because water must be heated quickly to the desired temperature. Residential gas models are also available which can heat more than five gallons per minute by 60°F, which usually is more than sufficient for two showers to be run at the same time.

Rinnai RC80HPi Tankless Water Heaters - The Right Option

Now that you have gone over all the information you are ready to take the next step and order a tankless water heater unit. However, you are still a little unsure which brand and model to go for.

Your first important decision is whether to purchase a gas or electric unit. Each have their positive and negative qualities and it really comes down to what size you need. If you have an ordinary size house with 2-3 bathrooms you are really going to need the larger sized unit to keep up with the water usage. In this case you are probably going to want to get the gas model. This is because it has a much bigger capacity and can heat the water in a shorter period of time. It is also significantly more cost effective. If you are looking to purchase a unit for your small house or condo and only need to heat water for 1 bathroom, the electric may be a more effective choice for you. They fit just about anywhere and are very easy to install. While the electric units' capacity is not as large as the gas version and they are a bit less efficient, if you are only using it in a small area, it won't really make a difference.

When it comes to choosing a brand there are a number of choices.

Here a few suggestions for things you should look for. First is price, is installation included, what is the warranty coverage and how long has the company been in business. While Rinnai RC80HPi Tankless Water Heaters are really new here, they have been very popular in Japan and Europe for a number of years.

Wondering whether or not you can install the tankless water heater yourself?

Many people want to know whether or not they can install a tankless water heater on their own. The answer to this is simple, yes, you can easily do that but there are some things that you will need to take into consideration. The first thing is to make sure that you are doing everything possible to make certain that you are taking the time to read up on the do's and don'ts of the installation of a tankless water heater. If the water heater is not installed correctly, you are not going to get the efficiency or the hot water that you want, which would completely defeat the purpose.

Remember there is not only plumbing that you will have to deal with, but there will be electrical as well.

If you are not experienced with electrical, it may best that you do leave that up to an experienced technician. There are just too many things that could go wrong with electric. If the plumbing fails, you will have a mess. If the electric fails, you could have a fire. It is always better to go with a trusted professional on things like that.

You can do most of the work yourself and then have someone come in to finish the wiring or to double check your labor. While there will still be a cost for this, it is certainly not going to be as much money as if you paid someone to come out to completely do the job. In the end, even if you end up having to pay a little more money than you wanted to, it is still worth it. The amount of money that you will save over time is going to be so much more than what you spend to have the tankless water heater installed.

After doing my due diligence I made my decision and bought a Rinnai RC80HPi and I have been recommending them ever since!

So congrats on your decision. Hopefully you will be very happy with your new tankless water heater.

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Tankless water heaters sales have been booming lately.  Unlimited hot water and energy savings are the features most often touted by the tankless water heater industry, and a smaller footprint is often mentioned.  While they do provide an unlimited supply of hot water they are not without their own problems. 

Storage type water heaters have been the standard in the United States, but recently tankless water heaters have begun to make an impact.  Most people are familiar with storage (tank type) water heaters, where you have a big tank of hot water ready and waiting when you need it.  The water can be heated with gas flames, electric heating elements, or any other method. Storage or tank type heaters have two potential problems, the first, is they use more standby energy than tankless water heaters, and the second, you can run out of hot water.

Tankless water heaters have some drawbacks to them as well.  For one thing, tankless water heaters have a flow switch in the water line that turns them on when sufficient flow is detected.  Usually a flow of about ½ gallon per minute or more is required to turn the unit on.  This pretty much eliminates the idea of having access to a low-flow stream of hot water for anything.

Sometimes it can be difficult to fill a bathtub with a tankless unit.  With tankless heaters, higher the flow rate of the water the lower the temperature rise since the water spends less time in the heater.  With a bathtub you usually turn on the water full blast so it doesn’t take too long to fill the tub.  Usually the faucet at the tub will have the highest flow rate of any fixture in your home, often 7 gallons per minute or more. With typical tankless heaters you end up with a tub full of tepid water.  If you try to fill it more slowly to get it hotter, it takes so long to fill that it cools off before you get in anyway.  So if you like to soak away in a hot tub, you better make sure you get a big enough heater to handle the job.

Tankless heaters are substantially more expensive than storage heaters, and more complex, so they are more expensive to repair should anything go wrong.  They also need larger flues and if they are electric, they often need special extra heavy wiring.

Another problem with tankless units is that they take longer to get hot water to the fixtures.  That means you waste more water, which is not very environmentally friendly.  The reason is that when you turn the hot water on, the flow switch turns on the heater, and it begins to heat the water.  But to reach full temperature the water must travel through the entire heater.  Now you have to not only dump out the cooled off water in the hot water piping, but also the cooled off water in the water heater as well, before you get hot water at the fixture.

Hot water circulating systems do not work with tankless heaters because either the flow of hot water won’t be enough to turn on the heater, or it keeps the heater turned on all of the time.  Neither scenario works. However, there is a way to solve the long wait and wasted water problems.

A demand hot water system will work with tankless and with storage type water heaters, providing the benefits of faster hot water delivery and eliminating the running of water down the drain.

The demand hot water pump installs at the furthest fixture from the heater, and connects to the hot and cold water lines.  When you want hot water you press a button and the cooled off hot water in the hot water piping gets pumped back to the inlet of the heater, and when the actual hot water reaches the fixture the pump shuts off.  That way you get your hot water faster than running the faucet, you don’t run any water down the drain while you wait, and you don’t fill the cold water line with hot water.  You save time, water, and money.  Typical savings can amount to over 15,000 gallons per year for a family of four. A hot water demand system used with a tankless water heater makes a great environmentally friendly package, saving both water and energy.

Demand systems work just as well with storage type water heaters, and if you are considering such a system, you might check with your water company as some offer rebates for such systems.  Be sure to check the pump is powerful enough to turn on the flow switch, as not all pumps are strong enough.  Metlund manufactures several models of demand pumps, at least one of which will run a tankless heater.  Chilipepper Sales also manufactures the Chilipepper appliance which has a pump strong enough to run any tankless heater.

If your primary concern is having unlimited amounts of hot water and you can live with the few drawbacks, then the tankless unit is for you, otherwise you might want to stick with a good old-fashioned storage type water heater.

These " How to" Plumbing videos are a must. Even if you feel you know everything there is to know about plumbing repairs, there is something in these videos for you. Just imagine if you could watch a plumber install and repair plumbing day by day, hour after hour. Could you imagine what you would learn? Yes, you could learn enough to start your own plumbing repair service. Not only would you save money, but you can make money. Well, your wish has come true. On these videos you will find and learn all the tricks of the trade that the pros already know. No more biting your nails when you call the plumber. No more taking off from work, staying at home waiting for the plumber to show up only to have him / her call you to say he or she may have to reschedule. With these plumbing videos you will be impressed and happy to know the knowledge is just an arm's reach away. Pick up any one of the videos; toilet, bath, sink, tub and shower, kitchen sink, hot water heater and the sump pump. The list goes on. Every video has been created by a licensed plumber with over 25 years experience in plumbing repairs services. You will be watching a real plumber doing service, not someone that can just talk the talk, but can walk the walk. There are no plumbing videos out there like these. It took years to develop these videos. We know there is a need out there for these plumbing repair videos. After years of plumbing service, we have come across many people who could really not afford a plumber ...
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Water heater is an essential appliance for home use, especially during winters. In colder regions, people use water heater for the whole year to get hot water to complete various household chores. However, we do not give much thought to it. But if, one winter morning, we reach into the bathroom to get shower and there is no hot water, what will happen next, you can imagine. While buying a water heater, you should gather some useful knowledge about it.

A water heater can run by electricity or by using gas. An electric water heater has one or two elements inside it. When heater is switched on, these elements get heat up and then radiate heat into the water. In gas water heater, there is a burner below the water tank which heats the water.

Various types of water heaters

Storage/electric water heater This is the most popular kind of water heater. It heats the water and stores it in the insulated tank. Converting power by 100% efficiency, it is easy to install and inexpensive. These water heaters have elements immersed in water all the time.

Tankless water heaters Tank less or instant water heaters are also called as the demand water heaters. These water heaters do not have tank attached to them for storage of hot water. It prevents the heat loss for stored hot water. It also saves energy as you heat as much water as need. These water heaters can run by gas or electricity. This tank less water heaters can be classified as the whole water heater or the point of use water heater. Whole house water heater eliminates the need of storage water heater. And point of use water heater is placed near the place of use of water heater. Although these kinds of water heaters may be more expensive and difficult to install than the conventional water heater but in the long run they prove to be cheaper as there is no need to store hot water unnecessarily.

Solar water heaters Solar water heater are also catching the attention of users for its inexpensive operations. There are collectors in the solar heater which are mounted on the roof or the any clear area of the yard. For this you need a separate storage tank near the conventional storage water heater, a controller and a connecting pipe. Water gets heated before reaching the conventional heater and in summers, that is the only heating you might require. These heaters help you reduce your water heating costs substantially.

You can get more information online about the various kinds of water heaters, their features and prices. All this will help you a lot in making a right decision for buying a water heater.

Tim Carter, of www.askthebuilder.com, demonstrates some helpful installation tips for gas and electric water heaters.

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Water heater is an essential appliance for home use, especially during winters. In colder regions, people use water heater for the whole year to get hot water to complete various household chores. However, we do not give much thought to it. But if, one winter morning, we reach into the bathroom to get shower and there is no hot water, what will happen next, you can imagine. While buying a water heater, you should gather some useful knowledge about it.

A water heater can run by electricity or by using gas. An electric water heater has one or two elements inside it. When heater is switched on, these elements get heat up and then radiate heat into the water. In gas water heater, there is a burner below the water tank which heats the water.

Various types of water heaters

Storage/electric water heater This is the most popular kind of water heater. It heats the water and stores it in the insulated tank. Converting power by 100% efficiency, it is easy to install and inexpensive. These water heaters have elements immersed in water all the time.

Tankless water heaters Tank less or instant water heaters are also called as the demand water heaters. These water heaters do not have tank attached to them for storage of hot water. It prevents the heat loss for stored hot water. It also saves energy as you heat as much water as need. These water heaters can run by gas or electricity. This tank less water heaters can be classified as the whole water heater or the point of use water heater. Whole house water heater eliminates the need of storage water heater. And point of use water heater is placed near the place of use of water heater. Although these kinds of water heaters may be more expensive and difficult to install than the conventional water heater but in the long run they prove to be cheaper as there is no need to store hot water unnecessarily.

Solar water heaters Solar water heater are also catching the attention of users for its inexpensive operations. There are collectors in the solar heater which are mounted on the roof or the any clear area of the yard. For this you need a separate storage tank near the conventional storage water heater, a controller and a connecting pipe. Water gets heated before reaching the conventional heater and in summers, that is the only heating you might require. These heaters help you reduce your water heating costs substantially.

You can get more information online about the various kinds of water heaters, their features and prices. All this will help you a lot in making a right decision for buying a water heater.

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How to Flush Your Hot Water Tank:

There are two main types of water heaters, those powered by gas (natural or propane) and those running on electricity. The instructions below address both types.

1)     Electric:  If your hot water heater is electric, turn off the electricity to the water heater. You may need to turn off a breaker or remove a fuse in your electrical panel to ensure the unit is deactivated. Turning the electricity off is critical to ensure the electric heating element does not turn on when the heater is drained of water. This could cause the heating element to burn out and potentially require replacement of the entire water heater.

Gas: If your hot water heater is a gas powered unit, note the current temperature setting on the gas dial and then turn the gas dial to the lowest setting or "Pilot."

2)     Turn off the cold water supply valve to the heater which is generally located on top of the hot water heater.

3)      Attach a garden hose to the drain valve located at the bottom of the heater. This drain valve typically looks like a regular outdoor hose bib and may be hidden under a removable cover. Run a hose from the drain valve to a convenient drain location. If you don't have a convenient drain available you will need to use a bucket to capture and remove drained water.

4)     Open any hot water faucet in the house (generally one closest to the water heater).

5)     Open the drain valve on the hot water heater and allow it to completely drain. If the drain valve is made of plastic and the heater is several years old, it may be difficult to open and may break easily if forced, so be gentle when opening the valve. If the drain valve clogs during the draining process, open the cold water supply valve and see if the water pressure will open the clog. If it does, close the cold water supply valve and fully drain the heater.

6)      When the hot water heater is empty, close the drain valve and open the cold water supply valve. This may dislodge more sediment in the heater through the churning action of the cold water in the tank. Partially fill the heater with cold water, close the cold water supply valve and drain the heater again following Steps 2 through 5.

7)     Look at the water being drained to see if it is clear or is there still some sediment in the drain water. If the water is clear continue to Step 9. If not, flush the hot water heater as described in Step 8.

8)     Flush the hot water heater by opening the cold water supply valve while the drain valve is open and let the water run for 5 to 10 minutes. Close the cold water supply valve and repeat Step 7.

9)     Close the drain valve, remove the hose and turn on the cold water supply valve and allow the hot water heater to fill with cold water.

10)  Open all the hot water faucets in your home one-by-one to until any air in the line is purged and water flows smoothly. Note that the water will not be hot since you haven't turned the heating element on yet.

11)  Electric:  Turn the electricity to the water heater back on by turning the breaker on or replacing the fuse.

Gas:  Turn the gas from "Pilot," or the lowest setting, back to the current setting as noted in Step 1 above.

Your hot water heater is now clean and ready for continued use. Based on how long it had been since you previously flushed your hot water heater and the severity of the sediment you saw being drained, you can determine how often to flush your hot water heater. Most professionals recommend draining and flushing your hot water heater annually.

Getting Water for Emergency Use:

Should an emergency arise and you need access to the safe drinking water in your hot water heater, simply drain the water as described below.

If you only need a small amount of water, you can open the drain valve slowly and empty hot water into a suitable container. Keep in mind the water will be very hot so a metal or heat resistant glass container would work best. Remember also to protect your hands, arms and face from hot splashing water or the hot container.

Turn the electricity off to the hot water heater or the turn the gas valve to "Pilot" (as described in Step 1 above) if you intend to use all the water in your hot water heater. Also, turn off the cold water supply valve to isolate your hot water heater from potentially contaminated public piping systems (which can occur as the result of an earthquake). Allow several hours to pass before you attempt to drain large quantities of water from the hot water heater. Open any hot water faucet in the house and open the drain valve to capture clean drinking water. Still, the water may be hot so protect yourself accordingly.

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