Faqs

The temperature rise is the difference in temperature from the water that feeds into the water heater and the temperature is must be heated to. In Kansas City the temperature rise is usually 70 – 80 degrees.

The problem with electric tankless water heaters is when you have a temperature rise over 70 degrees. In the Kansas City area, we have several weeks out of the year where the incoming water supply is just to cold for an electric tankless to keep up.

When reading online reviews of tankless water heaters online, be sure to factor in the areas with warmer climates will have a much higher flow rate than in cooler climates.

When it comes to electric water heaters the cost is so high that spending a few hundred dollars more for a high efficiency unit will actually pay itself back in less than two years.

A hybrid electric water heater will operate for about $300 less than a traditional electric water heater.

Starting April 15, 2015 the new energy requirements will affect all types of water heaters by raising the energy factor requirements.

There requirements for gas tanks will be the following.

Gas Water Heaters

55 gallons and under .61 Energy Factor

55 gallons and over   .76 Energy Factor

Electric Water Heaters

55 gallons and under .95 Energy Factor

55 gallons and over  2.0 Energy Factor

Gas fired Tankless

.82 Energy Factor

The efficiency requirements for water heaters have leveled out the competition for efficiency ratings of water heaters. Most water heaters sold today will have an energy factor of .58. 

Most manufacturers have a line of energy star water heaters that will usually cost more to install and maintain, not to mention the added cost of the tank.

A commercial water heater must be able to supply all fixtures with a continuous supply of hot water at 120 degrees at all times.

Most states require that all water heaters over 200,000 BTU or 120 gallons or larger to be ASME certified.

There are several factors to consider when determining the size of your next water heater. Most people that replace their water heater will use the old water heater to gauge the size they will need. However you should also consider that not all water heaters perform the same. When water heaters get older and collect sediment in the tank it can reduced their ability to heat water.

New water heaters are more efficient and perform better than older units. Also by flushing your water heater annually, you will improve the efficiency and performance of your water heater.

Meeting a heavy demand for hot water

The most common residential water heaters are 40 and 50 gallon tanks. In some cases larger 75-80 gallon tanks are also installed for families that do not have enough hot water.  You can also install multiple 40 gallon water heaters which can actually be far more efficient that an 80 gallon tank.

There are also many quick recovery tanks that are available through various manufacturers. A quick recovery tank can cost up to twice as much for the unit and may only slightly improve the amount of hot water produced.

There has been a lot of photos circulating recently, on various media outlets showing the empty shelves at Sears, who once supplied the appliances for 50% of the homes in the US. Water heaters have always been a big part of Sears, in fact they have their own brand of heaters called Kenmore.

In order to get parts for a Kenmore water heater you must go through Sears. You can’t really work on a Kenmore unit if you don’t have the replacement gaskets or proper part. The thermocouple for a Kenmore is not universal as is with many other types of water heaters. If these guys ever go out of business you may not be able to get the parts for repair.

One of the most common problems with Kenmore water heaters is actually a very simple fix. On some of the newer models there is an intake cover that can be taken off and cleaned. By removing the old cobwebs and dust you can usually get the pilot to light again.

When it comes to electric water heaters the cost is so high that spending a few hundred dollars more for a high efficiency unit will actually pay itself back in less than two years.

A hybrid electric water heater will operate for about $300 less than a traditional electric water heater.

An electric water heater uses two heating elements that are located on the side of the unit. It’s important to disconnect the power supply before attempting to repair or test any water heater.

There is usually an upper and lower heating element, if one of these goes bad it will impact your hot water supply differently depending on which one has failed. If the upper heating element has gone bad you will usually get luke warm hot water. If the water only stays hot for a 10 minutes it usually the lower heating element.

Bradford White is the best all around water heater. They are about the only water heater manufacturer that assembles all units in the US. The gas valve by far the most reliable for any water heater on the market. The glass lines tanks will last for many years but you need to protect against thermal expansion or you could have problems.

Best Tank against leaks

AO Smith has one of the thickest and longest lasting tanks on the market. The only drawback with AO Smith has been the reliability of the gas valves. They aren’t all bad gas valves but when they do fail it usually makes the most sense to just replace the tank.

There has been a lot of photos circulating recently, on various media outlets showing the empty shelves at Sears, who once supplied the appliances for 50% of the homes in the US. Water heaters have always been a big part of Sears, in fact they have their own brand of heaters called Kenmore.

In order to get parts for a Kenmore water heater you must go through Sears. You can’t really work on a Kenmore unit if you don’t have the replacement gaskets or proper part. The thermocouple for a Kenmore is not universal as is with many other types of water heaters. If these guys ever go out of business you may not be able to get the parts for repair.

One of the most common problems with Kenmore water heaters is actually a very simple fix. On some of the newer models there is an intake cover that can be taken off and cleaned. By removing the old cobwebs and dust you can usually get the pilot to light again.

The cost to install a new water heater will depend on several factors that include the type of water heater, size, brand, installation requirements, and installation methods used.

Most water heaters will be Atmospheric Vent units that run off natural gas. These are among the least expensive types of water heaters and range anywhere from $350-$500 for the tank itself. Typical parts and installation can be anywhere from $300-$800. Other types of water heaters such as tankless and power vent can cost 2-3 times as much to have installed.

The size of the water heater might not make a big difference. We only have a $6 difference in price between a 40 gallon and 50 gallon hot water tank.

The brand of the water heater could also have a significant impact of the price you pay. The least expensive tanks are usually Rheem, Whirlpool, and State Select. Bradford White and AO Smith are higher quality tanks that are usually a little more expensive to purchase.

The installation requirements may be the biggest factor in determining cost. One of the most common installation variables has to do with the way the gas and water lines are connected. It’s a good idea to hard pipe your supply lines to prevent problems down the road as well as avoid using sharkbite connectors. Other variables with installation can include the need to remove saddle valves, updating the gas line, and flue liners.

Overland Park Kansas does require thermal expansion tanks to be installed on all closed loop systems. A closed loop system is created when a type of backflow device is used to protect potable water supply. Inspectors in Overland Park are considering a PRV as a backflow device and thus creating a closed loop system. If you have a PRV, you will need a thermal expansion tank.

Depending on the type of water heater you may still need to install a di-electric union. This is commonly used when you are joining two dissimilar metals. Most of the water heaters will have a galvanized steel nipple coming out of the top. When connecting a copper supply line to the galvanized pipe you are required to use a di-electric union to keep the materials from being in direct contact. Many water heaters such as Bradford White, have waterways built into the nipples coming off the top. These plastic waterways prevent the need for a di-electric union.

For many water heaters such as AO Smith, State, and Whirlpool you are better off letting the water heater sit directly on the floor even if it’s not perfectly level. The air intake for these water heaters are on the bottom of the tank which is protected by a pre-filter. If you raise up one of the edges to level the tank you are bypassing the pre-filter.

The length of time required to replace  a hot water heater will vary with the installation requirements. Installing an expansion tank or replacing saddle valves can add time to the installation.

Usually we spend an average of 2-3 hours replacing a hot water tank. It will take more time to sweat copper piping but makes for a better connection with less chances of issues down the road.

A typical natural gas 50 gallon water heater will take about an hour to heat up.

If the plastic rings have melted on top of the water heater it usually means that the water heater is not venting properly. When a water heater doesn’t vent properly you are at risk of carbon monoxide entering into your home. You may want to install a flue liner or have your vent cap looked at for repair.

An expansion tank can fail within the first two years if not calibrated properly. In order to calibrate a thermal expansion tank you must have a water pressure gauge and air pressure gauge. The expansion tank pressure must be equal to your water pressure or it will fail quickly.

One of the biggest drawbacks to thermal expansion tanks is that they usually don’t last as long as the water heater they are designed to protect. A typical lifespan for a thermal expansion tank is 5-7 years. As regular maintenance, an expansion should be inspected every year.

Expansion tanks come in a variety of sizes and warranties. A typical expansion tank will have a 1,5, or 6 year warranty.

If an expansion tanks fails it will fill with water. You can usually determine if the expansion tank is full or not by the feel. You can also release some air out of the valve stem to see if water is released.

Most thermal expansion tanks manufacturers will call for the tank to be installed in the vertical position and properly supported. They type of support required for the expansion tank will vary with the piping in the house.

Copper supply lines can support a standard 2.1 gallon expansion tank. However you should ensure the copper tubing is connected properly.

Pex supply lines make for an easy addition to the expansion tank. Be weary, without additional support you could have issues in the event the expansion tank fills with water. A copper t is usually the best way to setup proper bracing.