Water Heater Repair College Station
Hot water is a non-negotiable in the modern home, but few of us put much thought into the system itself. A variety of other considerations revolve around the decisions we make about how we get that hot shower we enjoy every morning. You should consider whether you want a traditional hot water tank or a tankless water heater. Efficiency, cost, product maintenance, durability, and ease-of-use all factor into your decision about which kind of heater is right for your home. There are a few really distinct advantages and disadvantages to the two options.
Whichever system you prefer, JBG can make sure that it is installed the right way and guarantee that you won't have to think about your water heating system for many years to come.
New Water Heater Warranty
New water heaters come with 6-year parts and 1-year labor. When you purchase and have your water heater installed by JBG Plumbing we add an additional 2 years to the labor warranty for a total of 3 years of warranty coverage.
Tank Heaters
Your house likely has this kind of unit in the garage, a closet, or the attic; they come in electric or gas models. These units store heated water all day every day until you need it. It refills and reheats as the hot water is depleted. The difficulty with standard tank heaters is that you can run out of hot water depending on your use and the capacity of the unit. If you're the last person to shower in a household full of guests or children, well, you know that can be an unpleasant experience. The lower cost to purchase and install means that replacing the unit every decade or so might be worth it for upfront savings to your bottom line.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless heaters have come a LONG way since they first hit the market years ago. You don't have to wait forever to get that precious hot water. They don't off-gas at dangerously high temperatures. You don't have to do enormous/invasive system re-designs in most cases to make the jump to tankless. These units only heat the water needed per shower or load of laundry. It's much more energy-efficient, but the units cost more upfront — parts and installation.
JBG can help you make the decision that is right for your home. We do it for happy customers every day! Give us a call and let's talk about the options.
Water Heater Replacement
Water heaters are one of the many things in your home that are not designed to last forever. Electric water heaters are more susceptible to sediment buildup. Sediment starts to insulate the heating element in the tank and causes the water heater to work harder to accomplish the same water temperature. How long does a water heater typically last? A gas water heater lasts 8-12 years and electric water heaters sometimes last a little longer but must work harder.
How Does A Tankless Water Heater Work?
A traditional water heating system works by filling a tank and keeping it warm. This requires constant energy use to keep the water warm, and your usage is also very limited. Once the water in the tank has been used, you will need to wait for more water to be heated. This is not ideal if you have a big family, and everybody needs to take a shower in the morning, and if you have more than one bathroom, your hot water will run out incredibly quickly.
A tankless water heater, on the other hand, heats water as and when you need it and does not rely on a preheated supply of water in a tank. There are two main types of tankless water heater that you can install in your home; condensing and non-condensing.
Non-Condensing Tankless Water Heaters
A non-condensing tankless water heater starts working as soon as you turn on the faucet. A flow sensor activates and determines how much hot water is needed. The igniter on the water heater will then activate, and the gas control valve opens to supply gas. The burner ignites and supplies a flame to heat the water as it passes through. The cold water will then pass through the heat exchanger, and the gas flame will heat it up. The temperature will be monitored, and the flame adjusted to reach the desired temperature, and the hot water will flow from your faucet. This whole process happens in a matter of seconds, so you do not need to wait around for your water to heat up.
Condensing Tankless Water Heaters
The process is very similar to a non-condensing water heater, but there are a few extra steps. When you turn on the faucet, the water heater will determine how much water needs to be heated, and the igniter will create a flame to heat the water. In a non-condensing water heater, some of the heat energy is lost to evaporation, making it slightly less efficient. But condensing water heaters will harness that lost energy, increasing the efficiency and lowering your energy bills even further.
A Note On Electric Tankless Water Heaters
As well as gas-powered tankless heaters, there are also electric ones available. They work in much the same way but, instead of using a gas flame to heat the water, they use an electric element instead. Electric tankless water heaters are NOT efficient, and they are way more expensive to run, and they will not last as long as a tankless gas water heater.
Both condensing and non-condensing tankless water heaters deliver the required amount of hot water in seconds. The initial install cost of a tankless water heater is more than a traditional tank system, but the benefits are huge.
What Are The Advantages Of Tankless Water Heaters?
Saving Money
One of the biggest benefits of a tankless water heater is that it saves you a lot of money. When you use a tank system, you need to keep the water in the tank heated at all times, so when you turn on the faucet, the hot water is ready to come out. That means that it is constantly draining energy, and your energy usage is increased further when the tank needs to be refilled and heated again. If you have a family, this can get incredibly expensive. But when you use a tankless water heater, the water is heated as, and when it is used, so you are only spending money when you run the hot water. If you have a big family, these savings can really add up. Although it all depends on the amount of hot water that you use every day, the average saving is around $100 every year, which is a lot of money.
Being More Eco-Friendly
Reducing their impact on the environment is a big concern for a lot of people these days, and cutting your energy usage is one of the best ways to do that. Making the switch to a tankless water heater will make your home a lot more eco-friendly. A home that uses an average of 41 gallons of hot water or less will save 24% to 34% more energy when using a tankless water heater, and that number may be increased if you use a more efficient condensing water heater. If you are serious about saving the planet, investing in a tankless water heater is one of the best ways to do it.
Unlimited Hot Water
When you are getting ready for work in the morning, you don't have time to wait around for a water tank to heat up, so it is very inconvenient if the hot water runs out. But you never have to deal with that if you use a tankless hot water heater because you have an unlimited supply. That means that the whole family is free to shower without having to plan their morning routine around the hot water tank.
Saving Space
A large water tank takes up a lot of space, and if your house is not very large, it is important that you are economical with the space that you do have. Tankless water heaters are a great space-saving solution because they are far smaller. A Navien tankless water heater, for example, takes up 80% less space than a traditional hot water tank. Electric tankless water heaters take up even less space because they do not need an ignition system inside them, but they will be more expensive to run.
Longer Lasting
Installing a new water heater, whether it is a tank system or a tankless water heater, is always going to be a relatively big expense. However, tankless water heaters last a lot longer than hot water tanks, so you will not need to replace them very often at all. The average life expectancy of a tankless water heater is around 20 years. They have a lot of easily replaceable parts, so you can easily extend their lifespan beyond this and avoid having to replace the entire system.
How Easy Is It To Install A Tankless Water Heater?
Many homeowners stick with their old water tank system because it is easier than installing a tankless system. It is true that upgrading your existing water heating system will be quicker than switching to a new one, but the installation of a tankless water heater done by a professional plumber can still be your best bet. Any time you are working with gas lines, it is best left to a professional. Don't put your family at risk.
An experienced plumber can usually complete the installation and get the new tankless water heater up and running in 2 to 3 hours. First, the old water heater will need to be removed, and this takes around an hour, provided there are no complications along the way. Fitting the new tankless water heater will take around half an hour, and then it just needs to be connected. Once the power source and gas lines have been connected, the plumber will perform a few simple tests to ensure that your tankless water heating is working correctly, and then you can begin using it.
If you are unhappy with your current water heating system because it is unreliable and expensive to run, you should look into a tankless water heater in College Station. With a tankless water heater in your home, you can save yourself so much money on energy bills, and it is a lot more eco-friendly. It is also incredibly reliable, and you will have a constant supply of hot water, so there are no more worries about the hot water running out if multiple people need to get a shower. If you have limited room in your home, a tankless water heater can open up a lot of space for you as well. Once the installation is complete, your tankless water heater will be ready to use right away. It will last for decades to come, and even if you do have issues with it, parts can easily be replaced, so you do not need to install a whole new tankless heater, and you can continue to save money.