Posts Tagged ‘Hot water tank’

Putting Off Plumbing Problems

January 23rd, 2012

You maintain the furnace at the beginning of every heating season and you check out the air conditioner before the heat of summer arrives, yet you neglect other major systems within the home. The plumbing system for example is one system that most homeowners do little to care for until something major goes wrong. A major plumbing problem is not only a major inconvenience within the home, but it can also cause an expensive mess. Take the time to have a professional perform a maintenance check on your plumbing system and you will prevent these problems and keep everything flowing in the right direction.

Plumbing Maintenance Checks

If you have minor plumbing issues like a toilet that clogs frequently or a water heater pilot light that goes out from time to time, a maintenance check may be all that is standing between you and a problem free plumbing system. Put the plunger down and get a pro to check out and clean your plumbing system. A true plumbing maintenance check will involve a thorough inspection of everything from your showers and kitchen sink to the sump pump and hot water heater. These are a few of the point that your professional should check:

  • Signs of corrosion: The hot water tank and old piping in the home are both susceptible to corrosion. You may need to have sections of the plumbing system replaced to prevent major leaks. Also, when it comes to the water tank, anything from an anode replacement to an entire hot water tank replacement could be possible. » Read more: Putting Off Plumbing Problems

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Posted in Home Services, Hot Water Tank, Maintenace, Plumbing

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A Burn Free Winter: Water Heater Safety

December 26th, 2011

Having small children in the home highlights the many hazards that stand in the way of their safety. We lock up cabinets that house dangerous chemicals and cover sockets, but have you taken the necessary steps to prevent your children from experiencing a scalding burn? As our children age, they begin to take showers on their own and turn on and off the water when washing their hands. One wrong turn and your child could set the water so hot that it literally burns their skin. What may be hot water to your skin can spell disaster for your child, but luckily there is a simple way to childproof the water in your home as well!

Set Back that Tank!

The problem lies in the settings on your hot water tank’s thermostat. Many homeowners have never even touched this device and probably have no idea that there are different temperatures that you could set your tank at. When the tank is set at or above 150 degrees, it takes about 2 seconds to experience a scalding burn. No one needs the tank set the high, and odds are if you are tank is set at this point, you are also overpaying on your monthly energy bills. Set the tank back to 120 degrees and you will be surprised at the lack of difference it makes in your morning showers. » Read more: A Burn Free Winter: Water Heater Safety

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Posted in Furnace, Heating, Hot Water Tank, Safty

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Energy Conscious Water Heating

March 31st, 2011

When it comes to energy conscious home improvements, picking an effective place to spend your money is often the most difficult decision. Not all of us have money to blow on improvements that aren’t really going to make our home more energy efficient, so it is important to take a moment to look at your options. The HVAC system is always a good place to invest a little money in the replacement of outdated systems, but there is one other unit in the home that consumes tons of energy all year round. It is your hot water tank, and odds are you haven’t replaced yours in ages.

The hot water tank consumes between 14 and 25% of the energy in your home, so replacing this system will a new high efficiency unit could save you tons on your energy bills and decrease your home’s carbon footprint. However, you shouldn’t just run out and buy the first tank you see, keep the following tips in mind while you shop, and you are sure to find the perfect hot water tank for your home and your needs. » Read more: Energy Conscious Water Heating

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Posted in Go Green, Home Improvements, Hot Water Tank

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Stop Throwing Your Money Down the Drain!

November 25th, 2010

Many people focus on making the furnace and air conditioner as energy efficient as possible, but they often forget about another appliance that plays a major role in the utility bill cost every month. The hot water tank accounts for 18% of the energy costs for the average home, and the furnace and air conditioner are the only units that exceed that percentage. Don’t get me wrong, it is very important to have efficient heating and cooling systems, but it is important that each homeowner is also doing everything that they can to save on hot water as well.

The Hot Water Tank

Let’s start with the source of the problem: that old hot water tank. If your system is over ten years old, it is probably on its last leg. Insufficiently hot water, frequent pilot outages, and tank leaks are not normal hot water tank functions, and if you are experiencing any of these you are probably overdue for a system replacement. But, even if the tank seems to be working fine, you may still want to consider replacement. Newer units are more energy efficient, and you may even want to consider switching to a tank-less system. However, if you are sticking with the old unit, there are still some changes you should be making. » Read more: Stop Throwing Your Money Down the Drain!

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Posted in Furnace, Go Green, Heating, Home Improvements, Home Services, Hot Water Tank, Money Saving

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Going Tank-less with Your Hot Water Heat

August 30th, 2010

Tank-less hot water heaters seem to be the new craze in the world of plumbing and HVAC. Their claim to fame is their ability to heat water instantly and efficiently. Sounds good right? It does, but there are several points to consider before converting to a tank-less unit in your home.

How Tank-less Units Solve the Problems with Old Hot Water Tanks

Traditional hot water heaters use a large tank to store the water they heat before sending it to the different parts of a home. Whether the unit is gas or electric, the water is warmed by heating elements and then held inside a tank until it is needed. The problems associated with this type of unit are:

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Posted in Consumer Protection, Contractors, Heating, Money Saving

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