Selecting a New Water Heater

Whether you’re replacing a worn-out existing water heater or looking for the best model for a new house you’re building, it pays to choose carefully. Look for a water heater that satisfies your hot water needs and uses as little energy as possible. Often you can substantially reduce your hot water needs through water conservation efforts.

• Think About a Replacement Now: If you're like most people, you’re unlikely to go out looking for a water heater until your existing one fails, leaving little time to look for a water heater that most appropriately fits your needs and offers the highest level of energy efficiency. A much better approach is to do some research now. Figure out what type of water heater you want—gas or electric, storage or demand, stand-alone or integrated with your heating system, etc. Then, figure out the proper size for your household.
• Sizing a Water Heater: The capacity of a water heater is an important consideration. The water heater should provide enough hot water at the busiest time of the day. The ability of a storage water heater to meet peak demands for hot water is indicated by its "first hour rating." This rating accounts for the effects of tank size and the speed by which cold water is heated. Demand water heaters should be sized according to the required gallons per minute (gpm) flow rate and temperature rise required for your largest expected hot water fixture (usually a shower).With solar water heaters, you should discuss your requirements carefully with the solar water heating salesperson. You will need to size both the solar hot water system itself and the back-up electric or gas water heater. It generally makes the most sense to size a solar water heater to provide two-thirds to three-fourths of your total demand, and provide the rest with a back-up system.
• Fuel Options: What type of fuel makes the most sense for your water heater? If you currently have an electric water heater and natural gas is available in your area, a switch might save you a lot of money. Oil- and propane-fired water heaters are also usually less expensive to operate than electric models. Before you rule out electricity, though, check with your utility company. It may offer special off-peak rates that make electricity a more attractive option.
• Look for Sealed Combustion or Power-Vented Systems: For safety as well as energy efficiency, look for gas- or oil-fired water heaters with sealed combustion or power venting. Sealed combustion means that outside air is brought in directly to the water heater and exhaust gases are vented directly outside. The combustion is totally separated from the house air. Power-vented equipment can use house air for combustion, but flue gases are vented to the outside with the aid of a fan. In very tight houses, drawing combustion air from the house and passively venting flue gases up the chimney can sometimes result in back-drafting of dangerous combustion gases into the house.

COMPARING THE TRUE COSTS OF WATER HEATERS

When comparing the cost of various water heating options, keep in mind that there are two types of cost you need to look at: purchase cost and operating cost. Life-cycle costs, which take into account both the initial costs and operating costs of different water heaters, provide a much more accurate representation of the true costs of the water heater than the purchase price alone. Life-cycle costs for the most common types of water heaters under typical operating conditions are shown in the table here. When both purchase and operating costs are taken into account, one of the least expensive systems to buy (conventional electric storage) is one of the most costly to operate over a 13-year period. An electric heat pump water heater, though expensive to purchase, has a much lower cost over the long term. A solar water heating system, which costs the most to buy, has the lowest yearly operating cost among electric systems.

How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work

With the increased discussion about "going green" as well as the economic needs of managing energy costs, there has been increased attention to the Tankless Water Heater.

The common question:  How does the tankless water heater work.  Below is a step by step description of the process.  
) A hot water tap is opened...

2) The water enters the heater.

3) A water flow sensor detects the water flow.

4) The computer automatically ignites the burner.

5) The water circulates through the heat exchanger (coil).

6) The heat exchanger instantly heats the water at the designated temperature.
(this takes only 5 seconds)

7) The heater can provide you with endless hot water continuously. No more running out of hot water in the middle of a shower!

8) When the hot water tap is turned off, the unit shuts down automatically. Using only the BTU’s needed for one application.

Energy saved and an tax rebate as wellStay tuned to next insert of Frequently Asked Questions or visit us for more answers.

Call us for more details.  Call us - Joe Mumford Plumbing & Heating Co. 

"Your Source for Professional Service"   530-878-2566

Real Answers: Finding a Decent Plumber

Question:
No baloney, please. Just tell me where I can find a decent plumber who doesn't charge an arm and a leg.

Reply:

The same place you find the goose that lays golden eggs - in a fairy tale.

Some household repairs - fixing a leak under your sink, clearing a clogged drain, etc., are simple enough that many home owners choose to save money by doing it themselves. This is always an option.

However, when you call a professional plumber for a simple household repair, he does not charge on the basis of how complicated the job might be, but based on his time and overhead expenses. So there is a certain minimum he must charge on every call, no matter how simple the job might be.

This usually amounts to somewhere between $50-100. People tend to get upset paying $50 or more for a job that may take merely 10 - 15 minutes to complete. What they fail to factor is what it costs the company to bring a plumber to your door. They must pay for the dispatcher, truck, fuel, tools, insurance coverage, office equipment, etc.

How do you define a "decent" plumber? The least most people would expect is that he'd be able to identify and fix the problem and guarantee it for at least a year - or return at no extra charge if it breaks down before that. The work should abide by safety standards and codes. It's also reasonable to expect the firm to be licensed, insured and not on the public prosecutor's most wanted list. This inevitably means adding that "arm and leg" in overhead costs.

So much for simple repairs. The true skill of a mechanic, just as with a doctor, has less to do with turning a wrench than diagnosing a problem. If you have no hot water, or no heat from your boiler, or foul gunk flows from a faucet, it's no time to look for someone who works cheap. Imagine asking: "How can I find a decent brain surgeon who doesn't charge an arm and a leg...a decent defense lawyer...a decent airplane pilot..."

Oh, but how could anyone compare one of those skilled professionals to a lowly plumber! The fact of the matter is that plumbers also deal in life and death matters. The fuel lines and flues to your heating equipment carry the potential for death and destruction. And how would you like someone to cross-connect a waste line with your potable water supply? A well-trained plumber has been through a four or five year apprenticeship that is every bit as challenging as a college education. Their work is priced accordingly.

Some plumbing companies have taken to charging a flat rate for certain types of repairs, whether it takes one, two or more hours to do the job. People who don't like surprises may find this more appealing than paying by the hour.

If you do find a very cheap plumber, beware. As with everything else, you get what you pay for. That's no baloney.  

What is a Tankless Water Heater?

Water heating accounts for 20% or more of an average household’s annual energy expenditures. The yearly operating costs for conventional gas or electric storage tank water heaters average $300 or $550, respectively. Storage tank type water heaters raise and maintain the water temperature to the temperature setting on the tank (usually between 120 -140° F.  Even if no hot water is drawn from the tank (and cold water enters the tank), the heater will operate periodically to maintain the water temperature. This is due to "standby losses": the heat conducted and radiated from the walls of the tank and in gas fired water heaters through the flue pipe. These standby losses represent 10% to 20% of a household’s annual water heating costs. One way to reduce this expenditure is to use a tankless or demand water heater.

Tankless water heaters are common in Japan and Europe. They began appearing in the United States about 25 years ago. Unlike "conventional" tank water heaters, tank-less water heaters heat water only as it is used, or on demand. A tank-less unit has a heating device that is activated by the flow of water when a hot water valve is opened. Once activated, the heater delivers a constant supply of hot water. The output of the heater, however, limits the rate of the heated water flow.