Different Types Of Water Heaters And Water Heater Repair | Knoxville, TN
Nowadays, water heaters have become a basic appliance used in any Knoxville, TN home. They are used daily and are at times rarely turned off. These plumbing appliances are highly reliable. Therefore, it could come as a shock when you turn your showers on, only to realize that the water flowing out is lukewarm or cold. Whenever you realize this, the water heating unit probably requires a tune-up or a water heater repair service.
Imagine entering a bathroom in winter to find that the water is cold. The inconvenience and frustration of bathing using cold water are unimaginable. Yet, that is highly likely to happen if you do not enlist a professional for routine maintenance of the water heater. Like all other electrical appliances, the water heater can run into problems such as leaks, faulty wirings, or even sediment accumulation. These problems start as small issues and develop into full-blown plumbing emergencies. The professional can install, repair, maintain, or replace the following types of water heaters:
Types of Water Heaters
There are various types of water heaters that you can install at your home to ensure a good heated water supply. However, they have different features, advantages, and disadvantages. Therefore, you should consult your water heater repair technician about the best unit based on your requirements. However, smart tankless water heaters are the best because they are water-saving and energy-efficient. Based on your budget and preferences, the plumber might recommend:
Tank-Based Water Heater
Also called a conventional, standard, or tank-type water heater, tank-based water heaters are most common. They consist of a large, single, insulated tank that holds 20-80 gallons of water. Conventional water heaters constantly reheat the tank to ensure that there will be a hot water supply whenever needed.
Unfortunately, this tank takes up a lot of space. The standard water heaters are also prone to many problems such as sediment accumulation, corrosion, leaks, depleted anode rod, malfunctioning/faulty valves, or even worse, explosions. Therefore, they require a lot of frequent inspections and maintenance by a water heater repair professional in Knoxville, TN.
Tankless Water Heaters
Also called on-demand water heaters, these are more compact and smaller than conventional water heaters. They also do not feature a tank. Unlike the standard water heaters, these units heat the water on-demand, meaning that they are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. The other benefit of installing a tankless water heater is that the unit is highly durable. Water heaters might serve your home for over 20 years with proper maintenance from a professional water heater repair technician. Since they don’t have a tank, these water heaters don’t require much maintenance. However, that doesn’t mean that you should ignore the maintenance altogether.
Hybrid Water Heaters
Talk of an efficient water heater, a hybrid water heater is a different animal altogether. If you want to install an electric water heater, you should settle for this water heater. They don’t run on propane or natural gas. Instead, they are powered by electricity. Like the conventional water heaters, the hybrid water heaters feature a tank for storing the heated water. However, it is the water that is heated that makes these units unique.
Rather than create the heat, it moves the heat from the surrounding air into a converter which uses it for heating the water with the help of a heat pump. However, these water heating units shouldn’t be put in tighter spaces. However, since it absorbs the heat from the environment instead of generating it, the water heating unit is energy efficient. The water heater requires routine maintenance by a water heater repair expert in Knoxville to ensure it reaches its rated service life of 15 years.
The other common water heaters that a professional might recommend include condensing water heaters, solar water heaters, and heat pump water heaters. Hence, consult your water heating unit repair expert on the best unit to install at your home. However, tankless water heaters offer more versatility, compactness, and energy saving.
Common Water Heater Issues
Overburdening The Water Heater
Are you getting cold showers when you enter the bathroom? Such an experience isn’t a good sign. However, it doesn’t mean that it requires the services of a water heater repair professional. If you have many appliances that use hot water running simultaneously, you might have overloaded your water heating unit. This might even make the unit shut down unexpectedly. Whenever this happens too often, the water heater might break down.
Mineral Buildup
Does your Knoxville, TN home receive hard water from your water utility company? That might not be great news for your water heater. Hard water contains magnesium and calcium ions that might make the water heater tank corrode. When these mineral sediments are deposited at the bottom of the water heater, they might limit the water heater’s efficiency in heating the water. Hence, you should have a water heater repair technician come to flush the water heater after every year. The professional should also inspect it for other issues to ensure that the unit operates efficiently and optimally.
Blocked Air Vents
Is your water heater gas powered? Then it requires fresh air in a constant supply for the combustion to occur. The unit will also require a vent from which dangerous and harmful combustion gasses such as carbon monoxide can escape. A professional technician should regularly clean these air vents to remove any obstructions and make the unit have more efficiency.
Gas Flame Failure
The other issue that your water heater might experience is a gas flame failure. This may be caused by a faulty gas valve or an interruption of the gas supply into your home. Regardless, it is an inconvenience that may affect the comfort of your home. Begin by checking the gas supply in your home. If the gas supply is alright, you should have a water heater repair technician come to inspect the gas valves. If they are faulty, the professional will replace them to ensure your unit can heat the water properly.
Your Go-To Water Heater Repair Service Providers
Though water heaters are durable, that doesn’t mean they don’t run into issues. Hence, you should have a professional come over for a routine inspection and maintenance. Call My Professional Plumber for professional repair and installations in Knoxville.
