Serving all of Southern California
A water heater that leaks is almost always a problem. If you have a tank water heater and you notice water is pooling around the base, it’s time to call for a licensed professional plumber to look at the system and find out what’s wrong. Leaking water can indicate a number of major problems that require repairs or, in some cases, a full replacement of the water heater.
However, there is an important exception, which we’ll talk about below.
When you turn on the taps in your house, whether for a sink faucet or a shower head, and the water pressure feels weaker than normal, there are a number of different possibilities. In most cases, this is a municipal issue that will soon be remedied. But it could also be leaks, hard water build-up, or problems with the water main to your house.
If the low water pressure is coming only from the hot water taps, then the trouble can be narrowed down a bit further. You could have a build-up of corrosion, sediment, or other debris in the hot water lines for the home, but not in the cold water lines. Or … you may have hot water heater problems. If the low water pressure is occurring at all the hot water taps, this is probably what you’re dealing with.
When people ask our experts this question—and it’s a question we hear often—what they usually want to know is if they should have their current aging water heater replaced with a new one. But it’s also something people ask when they get a new water heater so they know what to expect, and how much return they’ll receive from their investment in the new unit.
The question doesn’t have a single, simple answer. “It depends,” is one way to answer it, but that won’t satisfy anybody. Depends on what? And what can be done to see that it last for as long as possible?
A hot water heater is a heating device that works in all seasons. Here in Southern California, where the mild winters mean home heating systems that work only for a short time, a water heater does the same steady work as always, no matter the month on the calendar.
But if you’ve noticed a recent change in the temperature of the hot water from the taps and shower heads, or you just don’t think you’ve ever gotten sufficient warmth from the water heater, please don’t turn up the aquastat (the water heater’s thermostat) to try to make up for it!
We work with different types of water heaters when it comes to new installations, replacements, repairs, and maintenance. The majority of homes still use storage tank water heaters, but the tankless and heat pump water heater are becoming more common because they can help a household save money on energy bills. A heat pump water heater is a highly attractive option for a home that doesn’t have a gas line, since it uses much less energy than a conventional electric water heater.
When the fall starts, HVAC companies remind their customers that it’s time to have maintenance done for their heating equipment. Even Southern California can get the winter blues! But plumbers also ask their customers to arrange for maintenance as well, and it’s for a heating system that Californians need every day, no matter the weather: the water heater.
You certainly have a water heater serving your household’s daily cleaning, washing, and cooking needs. But you may not realize how much work this appliance does: it accounts for almost 40% of the energy used in most homes! That’s a huge chunk of your utility bills. A device this essential that works this hard needs special attention every year.
Where do you go for professional water heater maintenance? An expert in plumbing in Riverside, CA or wherever you live. It takes plumbers to deal with the special needs of a water heater.
If you are considering replacing your old, inefficient storage tank water heater this fall, first of all—good for you! No reason to keep a power-draining and unreliable old water heater around longer than necessary. Second of all, we recommend giving serious consideration to replacing it with a tankless water heater. You’ve probably heard about some of the great advantages of going with a tankless system: they cost much less to run, have lengthy service lives, take up little space, require fewer repairs, and best of all they won’t run out of hot water!
But we’d like to address that last benefit—because this is one of the big pluses of a tankless water heater system that will completely vanish if you don’t have the water heater installed professionally. Unless an expert plumber correctly sizes the water heater to match the demands of your household, you’ll end up with a tankless system that won’t be able to keep up.
As professional plumbers who work on everything from small leaks in homes to large scale commercial plumbing installations, we’re used to encountering one of the biggest enemies of all plumbing systems: corrosion. Corrosion is a chemical reaction between water and metal in the presence of oxygen, resulting in a weakening of the metal. There are different types of corrosion, but rust is the most familiar. No matter the type, corrosion is straight up bad news for metal because it eats into it and eventually causes it to flake away. (In fact, the word corrosion comes from the Latin word meaning “to gnaw.” Corrosion gnaws away at metal.)
The tank water heater in your home is an appliance that is in danger of corrosion because of the contact between metal and water. But, you’ve probably noticed, the water heater is quite resistant to corrosion. That’s because models are designed this way, with a number of safeguards to stop the tank or other components from beginning to rust.
However, corrosion can still affect a water heater. When that happens, does that mean it’s time to have the water heater replaced?
If you have noticed water starting to pool around the base of your storage tank water heater and you’re concerned about it … well, you’re already on the right track! The only place water should be escaping for a hot water tank is a few drips from the temperature and pressure relief valve. Anything else indicates trouble with the water heater. In most cases this will require calling for professional water heater services in Santa Ana, CA or wherever you are in Southern California. Fortunately, you have some of the best professional plumbers available any time of the day or night! Our plumbers are always here to help—because we’re always open for business!
Believe us, a leaking water heater isn’t something you want to ignore. Not only will the operation of your water heater be in jeopardy, but the leaks can also create water damage. (If this is already a problem, we offer water damage restoration services.)
The standard water heater that most people think of is a tank water heater, also known as a storage water heater, which keeps a supply of water in a large tank. The water is maintained at a high temperature so that it’s ready for use when a tap turns on somewhere in the building. There are other models of water heater available, such as the tankless water heater, which has become popular in the U.S. over the last decade. A tankless water heater heats up water as it is needed rather than storing it.
There’s a third water heater alternative: the heat pump water heater. It’s not as well-known as the other two, but it offers some excellent advantages to homeowners. It’s worth considering if you’re looking to have a water heater installation in Pomona, CA or elsewhere in Southern California.
Sweetwater Plumbing
12345 Mountain Ave Suite N,
Chino,
CA
91710
CA License # 889182
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