Category: Plumbing

How to Inspect a Roof for Damage

When assessing property for flipping, knowing a bit about roofs and the basics of how to inspect a roof will help you prevent overlooking a costly expense. Depending on the material, square footage, type of roof, slope, architecture, and number of interruptions such as chimneys, skylights, dormers, and vents, a roof replacement can cost thousands of thousands dollars. And because many buyers hire home inspectors, an overlooked needed roof replacement can come to light during the selling process and cost you a property sale.

What to look for When Checking a Roof

You can hire a property inspector that includes a roof inspection when you purchase a property or do this yourself. However when you are evaluating a property before purchase and because you will no doubt check out dozens if not hundreds of homes for sale when looking for deals, hiring an inspector for each one would soon eat all your profits. You can learn the basics of how to inspect a roof, limit unwanted surprises, and save thousands in the flipping business.

While any documentation that tells when the roof was installed or last replaced on a property is valuable, you will still need to check the roof. A visual roof inspection requires knowing what to look for. You can climb up to the roof, use binoculars to inspect the condition or even a drone mounted camera. In addition to the roof, inspect under the eaves and overhangs, the fascia, and guttering for any water damage. Check around all roof interruptions such as skylights, dormers, chimneys, roof mounted antennas or satellite dishes, and vent pipes.

During the inspection, below are some of the things you need to look at:

Inspect Your Roof’s Gutters

The first thing we always do when doing a roof inspection is to look at the gutters. If your contractor has a detailed report on the gutter situation of your roof, then that is a good sign they know what they are doing. A contractor should always look at how the gutters are attached. This is because the drip edge cannot be replaced if the gutters are attached through the drip edge. In addition, if there is a gutter guard, then it may need to be removed if a new drip edge is needed, which will cost more in terms of time and labor. While looking at the gutters, the contractor should also take a peek at the underlayments to see what exist there and to get an overall better picture at how the roof was initially constructed.

Make Sure To Inspect Your Roof’s Flashing

The flashing is another important detail a contractor should carefully consider when giving an estimate. Without getting up on the roof, they will not be able to tell whether or not it needs to replaced, as well as what kind of flashing it is. If the contractor doesn’t bother to check out the flashing, they are is no way they can accurately estimate the cost or what the process will be like. As a result change orders will likely be necessary which can be a major headache for homeowners.

Check the Valleys

Valleys are the places where water runs off of your roof and into your gutters. Water and debris can cause these areas to sustain more wear than the rest of your roof, so take a closer look at those valleys to check for damage and heavy wear.

Inspect Caulking

Materials around vent pipes and chimneys can deteriorate over time. Look for gaps, cracks, missing caulking, or places where caulking is starting to fracture. If your caulking needs work, but the rest of the roof is in good condition, you may only need to caulk. It’s best to catch before water damage turns into a big problem.

Interior Inspection

Although most people understand the need to have the outside of their roofs inspected, it is recommended that you start examining your roof from the inside. To do this, grab your flashlight and go right to the attic. Here you should check the roof and make sure that there are absolutely no any issues that might cause problems and yet go unnoticed during the exterior inspection. Check out for those areas where the roof deck could be sagging, signs of leaking or water damage, dark spots and trails or any holes in the roof.

Exterior Inspection

Once you are done with inspecting the inside, you need to go right outside to examine the top part of your roofing. Here you should look out for any missing or damaged shingles, algae growth, rotting, blistering or curling. Check whether there are any loose materials or any wearing close to the chimney, pipes, vents or other roof penetrations. You need to look out for large amounts of granules within the gutters as this may be an indication of advanced wear on your roof. Check for the presence of mould or hidden moisture.

The Drainage

To avoid issues of water damage, you need to examine the drainage of your roof. The downspouts and gutters should be securely attached and the drains open to allow for easier exiting of the water. In case the downspouts and trenches are filled with debris, the water from your roof may have nowhere to go, hence start causing problems to your roof. All the kitchen, bath and dryer vents should go right outside of your home. This will help prevent the buildup of moisture in your attic, which could severely damage your roof.

Roofing Materials

There is a wide range of roof types, and the materials that are used on your roof can determine how long your roof will last. In case your roof is made of cedar, you will know that it needs repair or replacement when is becomes mossy or when it starts splitting and falling apart, especially in dry weather. If it is comprised of tiles, then you should check out for cracks, breakages, misplaced or missing tiles. For metal sheet roofs, you need to check out for the presence of rust.

When inspecting your roof, it is also essential to check the supporting materials such as timber and make sure that they have not been infested or eaten away by pests such as termites or wood borers.

SEWER REPAIR

What is Trenchless Sewer Repair?

There are many reasons why you may experience problems with your sewer line. It is important to understand why your pipe is not functioning properly to avoid wasting money on temporary repairs to your sewer line. Today there are more options available to consider and our objective is to help you understand the cost and benefits of each as trenchless sewer repair may be the right solution for you

There are two primary factors to consider before making a decision regarding repair or replacing your sewer line. 

The first factor is to understand the exact cause of the sewer problem. The most common problems are when the pipe is separated, cracked, filled with tree roots, back-pitched or is an outdated pipe

The second factor is locating where the problem is. Sometimes, a partial repair can be completed on the sewer line. In the case of a repair, it is very important to have obtained the exact location of the sewer problem. If you currently have a clay, lead, or steel sewer pipe, it is not suggested to repair a section of the sewer line.

Trenchless pipe repair and trenchless pipe replacement allows us to use the existing openings to the sewer or water line to reline the broken sewer pipe or broken water pipe and make your pipe like new with an interior sleeve

SEWER LINERS

Imagine a scenario where you go to flush you toilet and immediately realize that something has gone wrong. The water isn’t going where it’s supposed to go and, instead, you are left with a growing pool on your bathroom floor. This type of sewer and drain issue can quickly get out of control, especially if you don’t have it dealt with immediately

Unfortunately you need a sewer repair but fortunately we have technology that is called sewer lining to help you save both time and cost. Sewer lining repair is a trenchless sewer repair and replacement all in one technique without having to excavate and tear up your property to get your side sewer lines.

Any time the earth shifts, which is actually quite frequently, there is a chance that your pipes could crack or break. These pipes weren’t made to put up with a whole lot of movement and our position in the subduction zone, along with the material with which these pipes were made, has made us a high risk area

Have Your Pipes Checked

The first thing that every homeowner should remember is that a plumber can help

Trenchless Sewer Replacement

Getting You The Help You Need for Better Plumbing

If you’re experiencing serious problems with your plumbing, HPS Plumbing Services has the experience and innovation needed to solve them

Top Benefits of Trenchless Sewer Line Replacement

If you need your sewer pipes and water lines repaired, but don’t want to tear apart your lawn and deal with a lengthy and costly procedure, a trenchless sewer line replacement may be what you’re looking for.

Oftentimes, the source of a clog is so close to the drain and can easily be removed. However, if your clog or blockage is deep within the pipes, you may need to seek sewer repair or replacement services.

If you’re dealing with burst pipes, constant sewer backups, or cracked water pipes due to roots and movement in the ground, a trenchless sewer replacement may address these issues

trenchless sewer repair

Before trenchless sewer repair or replacement was an option, fixing sewer line issues meant excavating your property and waiting one or two weeks for the job to be complete. Not only is this approach frustrating and stressful for homeowners, it also creates a mess in your front yard and can damage your landscaping or driveway.

What to Expect

Every sewer repair or replacement service begins with a video pipe inspection. This helps us determine the extent of the problem and its exact location. Once we understand what’s causing your sewer line problem, we can discuss your options for repair or replacement

Pipe bursting

With this approach, we will “burst” your old sewer line and leave a new pipe in place

Pipe lining

This is also known as cured-in-place pipe lining. An epoxy liner will be pushed through your existing sewer line, and in a few hours this new material will harden and become the new pipe that sits within your old pipe.

Trenchless sewer repair and replacement will take about one or two days to complete—which is significantly more efficient compared to traditional methods, which typically take one or two weeks to finish.

TRENCHLESS REPAIR EXPERT

Expert can replace your residential and commercial drain pipe with the use of trench-less sewer repair and replacement technology. No major digging required to save your landscape, save your driveway, save time and money

Trenchless Pipe

Pipes grow old, too. Each passing year adds another wrinkle to the sewer lines until eventually they pose so great a risk that they have to be replaced. But isn’t replacing them a chore tangled up in dust, mud, and countless holes in your yard?

Trenchless Sewer Repair in Context

mirrored by the far less glamorous underground, as many of the water pipes in the city have passed the four decade life mark. Lines this old are a liability; no one knows how long they’ll last. The materials used in the 70s like cast iron or clay are outdated now, susceptible to an unusual amount of corrosion and root intrusion

The new trenchless sewer pipe repair method has been in use for more than a decade. It’s gone through several major improvements since then and is now an exceedingly dominant way of dealing with plumbing issues

How We Do It

Sewer pipe lining is our specialty. First off, we start and finish every job with a detailed sewer camera inspection. The main part of lining process is inserting and inflating the specialized epoxy resin impregnated tube where the new line should be, inside of the existing corroded cast iron pipe or the cracked clay lines. The resin liquid hardens after we treat it and forms pipe-within-a-pipe sustainable system.

The Pros and Cons of Trenchless Pipe Replacement

PIPE LINING AND BURSTING

Trenchless sewage line pipe replacement can be done in one of two ways: pipe lining or pipe bursting. With pipe lining, a small, flexible, resin-coated tube is slid into the damaged pipe, then it is inflated (like the balloons that clowns shape into animals). After several hours, the tube hardens and creates a new, undamaged pipe. This pipe is slightly smaller in diameter, but shouldn’t affect the overall flow rate of the sewer. The other trenchless method, pipe bursting, is a process that pulls a completely new pipe into the old one, which fractures outward from the pressure.

PROS

There are a few obvious advantages to a trenchless method. Because there is less digging, the process is usually cheaper. With traditional methods, anywhere the line runs must be dug up, and this can include landscaping and even driveways and garages. The digging used in trenchless methods is minimal and unobtrusive. As far as durability goes, either method generally comes with a warranty of up to 50 years.

CONS

Pipe bursting and lining are not possible in all circumstances. In some places, pipe bursting is illegal, and in other instances, the joints of the pipe make these techniques impossible. In many cases, extra efforts must be taken to make sure that electrical and gas lines will be unaffected by the process, and this can lead to higher labor costs. Also, it may be harder to find plumbing experts who specialize or are trained in these methods.

List of the Pros of Trenchless Sewer Repair

It saves time when compared to the traditional access methods.
Technicians using the trench technique would spend several hours digging out around the damaged sewer line. Then several more hours to fill the trench back in were required before the repair was complete. That doesn’t include the time necessary to complete the fix in the first place. Not only does the trenchless sewer repair technique take much less time, but it also requires fewer workers to be involved with the project. Companies providing this service get a lot more done with less labor, boosting their profit margins.

It reduces consumer inconvenience during the repair process.
When a sewer line is compromised for homeowners, they no longer can use their home’s water system until technicians complete the repair. That means the occupants of the property must either haul all their water supplies in manually, then remove them the same way, or relocate to a different property until the project is finished. Before trenchless sewer repair, that could mean 7-14 days away from home. Now many repairs happen in 24-48 hours because there is such a substantial reduction in prep time.

It saves the landscaping of the homeowner.
Sewer line repairs require underground access, which means the landscaping along the pipe must be removed for the work to be done. That could cost homeowners thousands of dollars, depending on what was in the way of the repair technicians. Although a couple of holes must still be dug to access the line when performing trenchless sewer repair, there is much less damage to repair to the lawn, landscaping, or garden after the work is complete. The customer’s property gets back to normal faster and with fewer disruptions.

List of the Cons of Trenchless Sewer Repair

It may not be covered by homeowners’ insurance.
The property damage caused by a broken or clogged sewer line is not usually covered by the standard homeowners’ policy. Repairs required because of tree root penetration are not usually covered either. If you haven’t needed to worry about a sewer line repair yet, then check your policy to see if special insurance requirements, or a rider to your policy, is required for this cost to be covered. Nothing is worse than having an expensive repair to fund straight from your own pocket.

It may require work on clogs outside of the property line.
The typical urban sewage system connects the house to the public sewer main through the use of two pipes: the upper lateral and the lower lateral. The lower portion of this connection often falls outside of the property line. Should a clog occur there, many communities require the property owner to maintain and repair the connection. The city would only work on the public sewer main when issues occur there.

You must review all the paperwork included with your mortgage and housing contract with the city to understand who is responsible for what repairs outside of the property line, but still benefits your home. The cost of repairing a lower lateral issue can be upward of $50,000 using traditional repair methods.

It can sometimes be more expensive to use a trenchless repair technique.
The trenchless sewer repair technique does not work well when you have a lateral pipe that doesn’t sit below your driveway or expensive landscaping. You might find that older pipes with joints, or a collapsed pipe, could cause the costs of this repair option to be much higher than the traditional service. There is only one way to determine which option is best for your specific situation: through a professional evaluation of your problem.

Pipe Lining Can Last 50 Years or More

Most pipe lining is insured for 50 years, so that should give you an idea of how long you can expect to have the new lining in the pipe to last. The warranty covers 50 years, but the lining can last longer than this, even to around a hundred years. This is basically doubling the lifespan of the pipeline that was already in place.

Pipe Bursting Has Similar Longevity

CIPP isn’t the only way we can repair a damaged pipe. Instead of putting in a liner that seals along the inside of the older pipe, we can slide a new pipe inside the older one and then use a burster to expand the new pipeline outward to replace the older pipeline by shattering it. This service is useful for smaller diameter pipes, which aren’t as well suited to CIPP. The new pipe also has a 50-year warranty and a similar lifespan expectancy.

Which One Is Better?

This isn’t a situation where you have to worry about making a choice. Our technicians will determine which of the two is right for your situation after making an evaluation. Both have similar advantages (non-invasive, fast, long-lasting) and can be used with a range of pre-existing piping materials.

Factors That Determine The Time It Takes To Perform A Sewer Repair

The location where the clog occurred: There are specific locations of the pipe that are more difficult to access than others. As an example, typically a repair under your front yard is easier than  repair in a busy roadway. This can make the job vary from only 1/2 a day, to 2 to 4 days if in a busy roadway.

The age of your pipes: The age of your pipes can increase the length of time it takes to repair the pipe. The older the pipe, the more chance for complications, or the need for a more extensive repair.

The type of damage the clog has caused: Different types of damages can occur, and these damages will all require a different approach and repair method. For instance, grease stoppages may be able to be cleared using a sewer jet, alleviating any need for excavation. While a backpitched sewer line may need a complete replacement, which could take 3 to 5 days.

How to Dig a Trench for a Sewer Line Replacement

Digging a trench down to your sewer line is mostly just a matter of hard work. It is not technically difficult, but it can be extremely demanding physically. One adult in reasonably good shape may expect to dig a sewer trench 4 feet deep by 8 feet long by 3 feet wide in one weekend of long workdays. This estimate is based on the assumption that you have loose soil with a moderate number of roots to cut through. Clay or densely packed soil, as well as the presence of many large roots, can increase digging time significantly.

Cold climates can present additional complications. In these areas, the depth of the sewer pipe can be quite deep because the frost line (the depth the ground freezes in winter) may be 4 feet or more below the surface. Also, if your sewer line fails in winter, you are faced with the difficult task of breaking through frozen ground in freezing temperatures. This may be impossible to do by hand, and you may need to call in for earth-moving equipment.

How Should I Know if Hydro Jetting or Snaking is the Best Choice for Drain Cleaning?

What many homeowners don’t know, however, is that chemical drain cleaners damage your pipes and create weak spots that are prone to burst. This is why professional drain cleaning methods are always preferred. Hydro jetting and snaking procedures are fast, efficient and safe for your drains. They will quickly remove clogs and get your drains clean in no time

How does Hydro Jetting work?

Hydro jetting is a popular choice because it’s fast, effective and completely safe for your drains. Using a high-pressure water jet, technicians can quickly clear out years of hardened debris from your drains. The water jet is also powerful enough to smooth the inner texture of the pipe, which gets rid of any porous patches that form clogs. This prevents future clogs before they start.

When should I use a Plumbing Snake?

Snaking is best reserved for simple or one-off clogs. Emergency clogs are often cleared with snaking because it’s quick and efficient. Snaking is not ideal in situations where the drains are overly dirty or if there is an abundance of hardened clogs in the pipe. These circumstances are best suited for hydro jetting. Hydro jetting is also preferred when there is a recurring clog because the water jet works better at permanently repairing the situation.

DIY Hydro Jetting

Many home plumbing repairs are safe to DIY with little to no experience. Unfortunately, hydro jetting is not one of those services. The high-pressure water jets are dangerous to use if you do not have the right experience or training.

Hydro jetting is also dangerous on pipes that are already weakened or damaged, which is why technicians will always inspect the pipes before recommending this service.

What Is Hydro-jet Cleaning?

It’s important that your home’s water pipes work well at all times. These pipes are responsible for moving waste and dirty water away from your home. Unfortunately, when pipes get blocked, they can’t do their jobs. This has serious consequences for a residential plumbing system. If your home is experiencing problems with clogged pipes, you have two options: hydro-jet cleaning or snaking.

Hydro-jetting, also referred to as water-jetting, is a specialized cleaning solution for drain and sewer pipes. It uses a high-pressure hose that has a special nozzle affixed on the end. The hose itself connects to a machine that directs pressurized water through the nozzle to clean and clear out congested sewer pipes.

Is Hydro-jetting Recommended for All Drain Clogs?

Some pipes aren’t strong enough to handle the force of hydro-jetting. In these cases, using a drain snake is better. Drain snake service uses a cable machine to clear clogs and is an affordable option. Hydro-jetting is best for serious clogs such as when there are tree roots in the sewer line or there is a massive clog that won’t respond to other methods.

Benefits of Hydro-jetting Service

Blocked sewer lines put the drains inside your home at risk of backing up and overflowing. Like it or not, the sewer pipes on your property are your responsibility to maintain. The easiest and most effective way to do this is to use hydro-jetting to clear serious clogs. The reason this method is popular and so effective is that it’s able to cut through virtually anything including wood, dried concrete, grease clinging to pipes, and those pesky tree roots. The pressurized water is powerful enough to pulverize nearly any material and wash it away and out of the pipe. Another benefit of hydro-jetting is that it cleans pipes thoroughly, leaving the pipes crystal clear and ready to stave off future clogs.

Benefits of the Drain Snake

The drain snake is a great option for small clogs that haven’t made it past the trap and deep into the line. It’s also a good option for homeowners who want to try to clear a clog before calling for professional drain cleaning services. Drain snakes, or hand augers, are available at home improvement stores and are a cost-effective, easy-to-use option for the average person.

What is Hydro Jetting?

Hydro jetting is an effective method of cleaning drains and main sewer lines. A hydro jetting machine has a water storage tank and hose attachments that will blast water into the drain lines from approximately 1500 PSI for kitchen jetters and 4000 PSI for main sewer line jetters.

When Do You Perform Hydro Jetting?

Typically, hydro jetting of the main sewer line or kitchen line is not the first step to clear a clogged drain line. Heavy clogs that will not clear by routine snaking, area drains overflowing in the rain, in preparation of epoxy relining, or commercial preventative maintenance are ideal problem scenarios to consider hydro jetting

What is Hydro Jetting Used For?

Hydro jetting is used to completely eliminate scale buildup and heavy root intrusion in main sewer lines, and heavy grease and scale buildup in kitchen lines. It is especially useful in commercial applications for restaurant lines due to excessive grease. When kitchen drain pipes get frequent use and have even minimal amounts of grease poured into them on a regular basis, they can quickly become full and close off the flow of water.

Kitchen Hydro Jetting Process

Hydro jetting for kitchen lines is an effective method of removing heavy grease buildup in kitchen drain pipes that snakes cannot clear. Plumbing contractors or drain specialists will attempt snaking the line with a kitchen snaking machine first to determine the cause of the clog. If the kitchen snake comes back with heavy buildup or hits a hard blockage further down the line, they may recommend a hydro jetter service to remove the buildup.

Main Sewer Lines

Common causes of main sewer line clogs include tree roots, heavy scale buildup, low spots and deteriorating or broken plumbing pipes. Hydro jetting is a great way to expel scale buildup from mineral deposits and root intrusion, but is not effective on broken drain and sewer lines.

Why Choose Hydro-Jetting for Your Commercial Drain Cleaning?

Whether you run a business or own a commercial property and manage tenants, you have a lot to manage. Likely, your Bellaire, TX commercial plumbing is the last thing on your mind. Properly maintaining that plumbing system is not easy, and not something that the average person can handle. However, your commercial building’s drain and sewer system is vital to the operation of the property, and since it’s mostly hidden from view problems can develop without you even realizing it—that is, until these problems begin to impact the plumbing system’s operation.

What Is Hydro-Jetting?

This is a fairly recent, and very effective, addition to the standard methods for commercial drain cleaning. It involves the use of a hose with an omnidirectional sprayer head to blast a high-pressure stream of water down the drain pipe. The hydro-jet pressure is sufficient enough that it can clear out practically any clog that might form in the drain, in addition to any other waste buildup that may form clogs in the future.

What Are the Advantages?

There are a number of benefits to scheduling hydro-jetting for your commercial space. Prior to this service, the most common option to deal with drain clogs was drain snaking—which involves using a long cord with an auger on the end of it. The snake was inserted into the drain until it meets the clog, and which point the auger is used to drill through it.

How Often Should You Schedule This Service?

We recommend that you schedule hydro-jetting services for your drains at least once a year. You don’t need to worry about what season is best for this—so long as you choose a time where you can conveniently have the service done again within a year. There might also be times throughout the year that you will want to call for this service to address specific issues, such as a sudden clog.

Slow drainage is a leading sign that your commercial drains are in need of cleaning. As waste builds up within the drains and pipes, it begins to restrict the flow of water—so if you, your employees, or tenants begin to notice this, it’s important to give a professional plumber a call!

All About Hydro-Jetting and Why You Need It

Most people know that when their drain is clogged, it’s time to call a Richmond Hill plumber. Did you know your plumber may suggest hydro jetting? There are some great reasons to consider it, too.

What is Hydro Jetting?

If you’ve lived in your home for a while and noticed clogs keep recurring, it’s a sign. Hydro jetting can help. If you’re not sure what that is, hydro jetting is the method of using a high-pressure stream of water to clean the inside surfaces of plumbing pipes.

Why Should You Hydrojet?

Whether you’ve built a new home, are buying an existing home, or have lived in your house for years, your sewer drain needs to be cleaned from time to time. Otherwise, you could be in for a costly wake-up call in the form of a broken line. A compromised line caused by toilet paper and waste solids creating a dam and backing up into the house is also a possibility.

Very Effective

You can handle a minor clog with a plumbing snake, but for a severe clog, it is too much. With hydro-jetting, there isn’t a clog that can withstand the force of that powerful blast of water. It completely opens the line, clearing all the debris and buildup, and scouring the inside of the pipe clean.

Cost Savings

Of course, hydro-jetting will cost a little more than your regular drain cleaning services. Yet, in the long term, it will save you money. This method clears the entire pipe, eliminating problems for years into the future, and that saves you time and money without a doubt.

How to Choose a New Water Heater

It’s the dead of winter, freezing cold outside, and you seek comfort in the piping hot confines of your morning shower. With the lights dimmed, the water hits your face and rolls over your shoulders. Your muscles relax one by one as the warmness of the water finds its way down your legs to your chilly, restless feet. Lathered with soap and shampoo, you slump against the warming tile, eyes closed. You consider falling back asleep standing fully upright when it happens — a sudden burst of ice cold water hits your chest like acid rain. You crank the cold water down to zero with no result. The water temperature has turned against you, refusing heat in a stubborn show of determination. The cruel reality hits you — your water heater has just bought the farm.

A visit to your local big-box home-improvement store is overwhelming, to say the least. You’re faced with too many brands and too many sizes to choose from. Different fuel sources and energy ratings confuse you. And what’s the deal with these heaters that don’t even have a tank? How on earth can they meet your needs? Unfortunately, your big-box home-improvement employee helps you none — you’re going to have to figure

Electric – uses large coils that hang down into the tank to heat the water. The coils are similar to the ones in an electric oven. Generally, electric water heaters aren’t as efficient as those powered by other fuel sources, and electricity is more expensive than natural gas or propane. However, they’re less expensive up front and don’t require venting. If your water demand is small, then it may be a good way to go.

Natural Gas – uses a gas burner at the bottom of the tank, with a venting chimney that runs through the center and out the top. The carbon dioxide and water vapor byproducts are vented through the chimney and then run outdoors through your house chimney or side wall vent. A gas pilot light or electric spark produces the flame. Natural gas models cost more than electric heaters but are more efficient to operate.

Propane – works in the same way as a natural gas, but uses propane as the fuel source. Propane is generally used as a fuel source when a home doesn’t have access to natural gas. The propane is supplied from a large tank on the property.

HOW TO CHOOSE A WATER HEATER

Heating water is the second largest single user of energy in the home. While we all enjoy a soothing hot shower, rising energy costs—along with their adverse environmental impact—make it a good time to take a closer look at the various options now available.

Storage Tank: The most common hot water system used in homes. Water is kept constantly heated in the storage tank by electricity, natural gas, oil, or propane. Hot water is drawn out of the top of the tank when a faucet is turned on and cold water flows in the bottom to replace it.

Tankless: Also known as on demand water heaters. Water is heated by electricity or gas when the water flows through it without the need for a tank.

Solar: Water is circulated from the tank through a solar collector where it is heated by the sun. If the water in the tank is not hot enough, a conventional water heater is used to bring it up to the desired temperature

Factors in Choosing a Water Heater

So which type of water heater is right for your home? There are several factors to consider including the price of the system and installation, the cost and availability of energy sources, the energy factor (EF) rating of the water heater, and whether the system meets new water heater regulations.

Water Heater Buying Guide

Purchasing a Water Heater

Whether you’ve just taken that first unexpected and unwelcome cold shower or simply wish to reduce your energy bill, purchasing a new water heater can be an intimidating process

Fuel Source

First, determine what type of fuel source you have in the home. Once you know the fuel source, it’ll be easier to choose a water heater to fit your needs. Here are the differences among electric, gas/propane and hybrid fuel types.

Types of Water Heaters

Consider the size of your family and the utilities in your area to choose the best water heater.

Storage Tank

This is the most common type of water heater. These units have an insulated tank where water is heated and stored until it’s needed. They’re available in electric, liquid propane (LP) and natural gas models. Natural gas and LP water heaters normally use less energy and are less expensive to operate than electric models of the same size. When you buy a water heater, look at its cited energy efficiency and yearly operating costs. This information can be found on the EnergyGuide label.

Tankless or On-Demand

They don’t store hot water; they heat water as it passes through a series of coils in the unit. Since the unit only heats water as you use it, a tankless heater is usually more energy-efficient than a traditional storage tank water heater. They’re available in electric, LP and natural gas models. A tankless unit can provide only a limited flow rate of hot water. Most tankless units can provide up to 3.5 gallons of heated water per minute. These units are a good choice for anyone whose demand doesn’t typically call for hot water at more than two points at a time.

How to choose the right water heater

Tank water heater or tankless water heater? Here is a primer to help you in making the right choice Water heaters are a basic necessity to help in extreme weather conditions. They are the most sought after home equipment for any household. While traditional water heaters are huge in size and consume high energy, there modern counterparts are energy efficient in nature and produce hot water as per need.

Tank water heater

They come in two variants -gas or electric. The tank is insulated to help keep the inner water warm, and a thermostat to control the overall temperature of the water.

Tankless water heater

Tankless Water Heaters are comfortable, energy efficient and convenient. They can provide endless supply of hot water as per one’s need. But the question remains which one to choose – tank water heater or tankless water heater? Here is a primer to help you in making the right choice.

Energy efficiency

The modern tankless water heaters are much more energy efficient than the traditional ones. A tankless water heater heats water only at the time it is being used. Therefore, the energy is consumed only at the time when the heater is on. On the other hand, in the traditional water heater setup, water is stored in a large tank. When the water in the tank cools off, the fuel kicks in and heats it up again. An energy efficient water heater saves your money on electricity bill every month. Before buying a water heater, look for one with a higher energy factor. The cost of tankless water heaters are little higher than their non-energy efficient counterparts but the energy and the savings in future can make up for the initial higher price. Upgrading to a tankless water heating system is a good decision considering the long-term environmental benefits these water heaters provide.

Space matters

A conventional water heater is bulky in size which takes up a good amount of space of your house. The unit needs a moderately large space for installation. On the other hand, tankless water heater contributes towards space saving. It is compact in size and takes up significantly less space than a conventional tank.

Electric, Gas or Propane: How to Choose the Right Water Heater

Electric Water Heater

An electric water heater has the lowest initial cost and requires little maintenance. Venting is not necessary and there is no cause for worry regarding combustion gases. With electric models, the water heats rather quickly. They can offer high energy factor ratings even though gas-powered models operate with greater fuel efficiency.

Storage Tank Heater

The most commonly purchased water heater has a storage tank that constantly heats stored water for household usage. A thermostat detects water temperature and turns on the heating element when needed.

Recovery rate

The recovery rate is listed in terms of numbers of gallons of water heated per hour. It is recommended to select a higher recovery rate for systems that have higher hot water demands

Unit dimensions and installation location

It is likely that a new hot water heater will be larger than an older, replaced model because there is now more insulation built into the storage tank walls. You will have to make sure that you have enough space to install it.

To select the right size tank, you need to plan the amount of water needed for the number of bathrooms, bedrooms, and occupants in the home