Water heaters can last quite a while, if they are properly taken care of. No amount of care will make them last forever, though. Eventually, you will need to replace your water heater with a new one. It’s important that you be able to recognize the signs that you need a new water heater. Otherwise, you may suddenly find yourself without hot water while you scramble to look for a new system. Let’s take a look at some of the signs that you need a new system.
Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Water Heaters’ Category
When to Install a New Water Heater
Monday, August 15th, 2016Extend the Life of Your Water Heater with These Tips
Monday, December 14th, 2015Water heaters are built to last a fairly long time, considering how much of an investment they are. No one wants to replace their water heater every couple of years. However, if you want to make sure that your water heater lasts as long as possible, you’re going to need to do more than trust to chance. Read on for a list of procedures and precautions you can take to ensure that your water heater lasts as long as possible.
When to Replace Your Water Heater
Monday, September 21st, 2015Water heaters are incredibly tough systems. They’re built to last years in constant contact with water, and if you take good care of them they can last even longer. Unfortunately, however, they cannot last forever. At some point, you will eventually have to replace your water heater. If you aren’t sure whether or not your water heater needs replacing, read on.
What Happens During a Water Heater Maintenance Appointment
Monday, August 10th, 2015Water heater maintenance is a very important part of keeping your water heater healthy. While we have written about the benefits of water heater maintenance before, we haven’t really covered what actually happens during a water heater maintenance appointment. We feel that it’s important to know at least some of the procedures associated with water heater maintenance, so you can understand why it’s actually so important. With that in mind, let’s look at some of those procedures now.
Water Heater Parts: The Anode Rod
Monday, May 18th, 2015Your water heater is one of the hardest working appliances in your house. You probably don’t use your heater or air conditioner every day, but you almost certainly use hot water. If you use a storage water heater, as most people do, your water heater is working day and night to provide you with hot water. All of that water exposure should cause your water heater to rust into oblivion within a couple of years. Why, then, do water heaters last up to a decade under constant water exposure? The answer lies with a part called the “anode rod.” Let’s take a closer look at what the anode rod is, and why you need to have yours checked at least once a year.
How Tankless Water Heaters Work
Thursday, February 5th, 2015When most people hear the words “water heater,” they typically think of the big, cylindrical appliance that resides in basements or closets. These days, though, homeowners have the option of installing a tankless water heater. It may seem a little wacky that you can have hot water from a device that doesn’t hold any heated water, but the process is actually fairly simple when explained. However, the installation of a tankless water heater in your home can be complex and should be left to a trained expert. This is where Saddleback Plumbing comes in. The experts at Saddleback Plumbing have been helping customers install, repair and replace hot water heaters in the Orange County area since 1981, and they bring this experience to every job they do. Have a water heater issue? Call us today!
Direct Heating
Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand water heaters, can provide almost instantaneous heating because they heat the water directly when it is needed. There are two ways in which a tankless water heater is fueled: electricity or natural gas. Both fuel types use a key component to heat the water immediately: a heat exchanger. The way a tankless system works is that the hot water process is triggered when you open a hot water tap. Two things happen simultaneously: first, the heat exchanger is heater, either by gas or electricity, and second, the cold water intake opens and the water starts to flow to the heat exchanger. Once in the exchanger, the cold water absorbs the heat from the heat exchanger, becomes hot, and flows into your home as needed.
Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters
There are several benefits to installing a tankless water heater that makes them worth considering for your home:
- Energy efficiency – there is no standby heat loss with a tankless system; standby heat loss can account for up to 25% of a storage tank water heater’s energy use, which can be significant.
- Endless hot water – with a tankless system, you won’t have to worry about running out of hot water.
- Longer lifespan – tank water heaters have an average lifespan of 8-12 years while a tankless water heater has an average lifespan of 12-15 years.
Interested in what a tankless water heater can do for you? Call the experts at Saddleback Plumbing today!
The Dip Tube and Water Heater Repair
Wednesday, December 10th, 2014A traditional water heater works under a fairly simple heat rising principle. Hot water naturally rises above denser cold water, which is why water heaters use a large tank that heats water from the bottom so that it can flow into your home from a pipe located at the top of the tank. When your water heater quits working, you may fear the worst. But oftentimes, a problem with the water heater occurs in one of the simplest components: the dip tube.
When you notice a problem with your water heater, don’t want to wait to schedule repairs. The solution may be fairly quick and easy for a technician with a trained eye, or there could be a potential leak that must be addressed as soon as possible. The skilled experts at Saddleback Plumbing can diagnose any water heater repair in Orange County with integrity and accuracy.
What Is the Dip Tube?
The dip tube is essentially just a long tube, often made out of plastic, that leads to the bottom of the tank. This portion of piping connects to the cold water supply line to bring cold water into the unit. There is either an electric heating element or a gas burner located near the bottom of your tank which heats up the water so that it can rise to the top of the tank and remain available for use throughout the day.
There are a number of problems that could go wrong with the dip tube over time. Some indications that your dip tube is in need of replacement is if you notice intermittent bursts of hot or cold water, hot water that runs out too soon, or very little hot water at all. This occurs when the dip tube either snaps in half or breaks off entirely so that cold water stays near the top of the unit. Sometimes, shards from the dip tube can even block the pipes, further compromising the state of your water heater.
Don’t let your water heating issue go on for longer than it needs to.
Contact Saddleback Plumbing as soon as you notice that you’re in need of water heater repair in Orange County. Call us today!
Common Water Heater Repairs
Wednesday, October 1st, 2014Your water heater provides comfort and convenience at home, improving your showers, keeping laundry fresh, and helping you with many of the cleaning tasks around the house. But not all water heater repair needs will be immediately apparent. It’s important to schedule water heater maintenance every year for cleaning and adjustments and to make sure no component needs immediate replacement.
Without proper maintenance, it’s likely you’ll run into some sudden repair needs from time to time. If you call a technician because of reduced heating, loud noises, or discoloration, here are some of the problems a plumber may look for when inspecting water heaters.
- Broken Dip Tube: The dip tube is a pipe that allows water to flow into the bottom of storage tank water heaters. A burner or electric heating element at the bottom of the tank heats up the water, which then rises to the top of the tank due to the heat rising principle. If the dip tube is cracked or broken, cold water can flow to the top of the tank, which means you may not feel any hot water at all. This part will probably need to be replaced.
- Sediment in the Tank: Loud rumbling in the tank may indicate sediment buildup. If you have hard water, mineral deposits may build up in the tank, and could eventually block the pipes. With regular maintenance, however, your tank is flushed to keep this from occurring. If you hear a loud banging or rumbling noise from your water heater, call a professional who can flush your tank and make sure there is no further damage.
- Rust: Many people will tell you that rust in your hot water supply is a death sentence for your water heater. However, rust-colored water may result from a corroded anode rod, which simply requires immediate replacement to prevent your tank from rusting as well. The anode rod attracts particle that cause corrosion, sacrificing itself for the good of your unit. However, it needs replacement every now and then so that it does not corrode too much to function properly.
If you have questions about water heaters in Orange County, call Saddleback Plumbing today!
Why Is My Water Heater Making A Weird Noise?
Thursday, September 19th, 2013Water heaters are one of those silent household appliances we hardly acknowledge until it suffers a problem. This is doubly true in mild climates without a lot of bad weather, like Ladera Ranch. Water heater repair becomes less pressing if there isn’t a lot of snow or rain to damage the unit, and while wear and tear take their toll, Southern California experiences a lot less environmental stressors than other, harsher areas of the country. However, that makes it even more important to recognize potential problems before they start, and call in a professional to take care of it in promptly. For instance, you may be asking “Why is my water heater making a weird noise?”
In most cases, that noise can indicate a need for repairs.
In many cases, the water heater makes noises after scaling and mineral deposits gather on the bottom of the tank itself. That can result in a gurgling or a clanking noise coming from the heater. In order to fix it, a service professional must drain the tank and clean away the deposits in order to reduce the noise.
Similarly, a leak in the main tank may result in a dripping or bubbling noise. If the water drips onto the unit’s burner, or if condensation becomes dense enough to create dips, then you may hear a sizzle as the water interacts with open flame. Either way, it suggests a problem in need of professional correction.
Many water heaters come equipped with heat traps to help save energy. Sometimes, they can cause fluctuations in the water pressure, which results in a strange ticking or clicking noise heard in the pipes. A service technician can remove the traps and stop the clicking noise, though it will likely result in a higher energy bill to keep the water heater running at the same levels.
If you notice your water heater making a weird noise, don’t hesitate to call Ladera Ranch water heater repair experts at Saddleback Plumbing for help. Our service area includes Ladera Ranch; water heater repair is one of our specialties and we dedicate ourselves to your complete satisfaction. Give us a call to set up an appointment today.
How a New Water Heater Can Improve Your Home
Friday, August 23rd, 2013It’s no secret that your water heater is one of the most used appliances in your home. From showering and laundry to many other tasks, your water heater gets a ton of use every single day. Here at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. we have many years of experience offering Laguna Hills water heater installation services and we often see homeowners that wait until the very last second to replace their water heater. However, there are huge potential benefits to replacing your air conditioning system. Read on below and then give us a call if you have any questions.
Benefits of Laguna Hills Water Heater Installation
Keep these benefits in mind when you start to think about getting Laguna Hills water heater installation services.
- More efficiency – Even if your water heater is only a few years old, the new models of water heaters have achieved incredible efficiency standards. Your water heater likely comprises a large portion of your monthly energy usage. By upgrading to a new high-efficiency system you could greatly improve the efficiency of your home.
- More hot water – If you aren’t getting enough hot water in your home then upgrading to a new system could solve that issue. No one wants to run out of hot water half-way through their shower. Consider upgrading your water heater so that you can increase the comfort of your home.
- Fewer repairs – If you’re hanging onto your old water heater even though it keeps breaking down, you may be able to avoid those repairs by replacing your system. New water heaters tend to operate very consistently and replacing yours could reduce the calls that you have to make for repair.
Give us a call here at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. if you need any Laguna Hills water heater installation services. We will make sure that your new water heater matches your home’s need for hot water and that it fits in your budget.
Call us today to talk with one of our experts about any services that you need.