Hot Water Heaters

Types of Hot Water Heaters Available

Storage hot water heaters

Storage hot water heaters are the most common hot water heaters in the United States. The insulated tank usually holds between 20-80 gallons of water. Each heater is fueled by natural gas, propane, oil or electricity, and the heat produced is transferred to the water in the tank by a burner or coil. This heating system is not as energy efficient as it could be, since hot water is continuously being heated, and some heat may escape through the flue and walls of the tank.

Tankless hot water heaters

Tankless hot water heaters are more efficient than the traditional storage hot water heaters because the gas burner or electrical unit only heats up the water when the hot water is actually needed. However, this kind of heating system is best suited for homes equipped with water saving devices such as low-flow showerheads.

It is also limited by fuel choice, since residential electrical units are usually not able to keep up with the demands of a large household.

Heat pump hot water heaters

Heat pump hot water heaters are efficient because they take heat from air in the room and convert the heat from the air into heat for the water. These heating systems are not very common at this time, but they use as little as one third as much electricity as a conventional electric hot water heater. They do best in warm climates.

Indirect and integrated hot water heaters

These are combined space and water heaters that feed off one another to efficiently provide heat both for water and space. The hot water heater is installed as an addition to the boiler, and uses the hot water from the boiler to heat the water in the heater, which means more efficiency and less loss of heat through the flue. These are sold both as package deals with boilers and separately as an addition to your boiler.

Solar hot water heaters

These energy savers used to be more popular back when the government supplied credits for using them, but they are still just as viable as ever. While certain environmental factors affect how effective these sun-energy dependant hot water heaters perform, they offer a low-cost, renewable resource that pays for the installation of the equipment over time.

Troubleshooting Hot Water Heaters

The following are problems you may experience with your hot water heater, accompanied by suggestions for dealing with these challenges.

If you hear popping noises coming from your hot water heater:

Check for a build up of sediment in the hot water tank.

The normal process of heating the water can cause calcium carbonate to form and settle in the bottom of the tank. If you flush the tank on a regular basis, you shouldn't have this problem any longer. If you want to try a chemical application designed to remove sediment, proceed with caution; many of these chemicals are very dangerous. Have a HVAC technician help you if you are not sure how to install a flush kit or flush the hot water tank yourself.

Check to see if condensation is dripping down onto the burners.
This can make a sizzling sound like something frying in a pan.

If your hot water heater is not producing enough hot water:

Check the dip tube.

The dip tube is a long tube that directs cold water to the bottom of the tank. If the dip tube is broken, the incoming cold water mixes with the outgoing hot water, making it feel like your hot water heater is not heating the water well enough. Replace the dip tube if it's broken, or have a professional HVAC technician replace it for you if you are not comfortable performing this task yourself.

Check the setting on the thermostat.

Make sure the setting is hot enough. After you reset the temperature, give the tank an hour to heat the water properly, then try the water from the tap to see if the water temperature has increased appropriately.

Make sure the thermostat is working properly.

If you turn up the temperature setting and you do not get a response in water temperature, call a HVAC technician to come check your thermostat. The thermostat itself may not be working and may need to be replaced.
Look for burned out electric heating elements. Oftentimes burned out electric heating elements is the result of a build up of sediment.

Examine the tank to see if you have a heavy build up of sediment.

Excess sediment can reduce the heating efficiency of your hot water heater. If the sediment is too bad, you may need to replace the tank.

If your water smells bad:

Most likely you have a build up of anaerobic bacteria in your water.
This usually happens to people with well water, but can happen anywhere. It is especially aggravated if you soften the water in your hot water heater.

Replace the standard anode rod with an aluminum/zinc alloy anode rod.

Your HVAC technician will know how to do this and can explain to you how the zinc works to decrease the odor.

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