Every home needs a reliable hot water heater, and one that will provide all the hot water needed for everyone in the family. Having to wait on an old and small water heater can make for a rushed and stressed morning for everyone, and can also mean some very unpleasant and unexpected cold showers! To ensure you choose the best hot water heater for your home, and know what's involved with its installation and repairs, note a few common questions you might have about this equipment, and then discuss your needs with a plumber.
Can a gas hot water heater be installed in any home?
A gas hot water heater will need proper ventilation; the small flame that is used to keep the warming coils in the heater hot may not seem as if it would cause a problem with fumes, but these fumes and emissions can build up in an enclosed space. A plumber may recommend a different area of your home for the heater, such as a first-floor utility room rather than the basement, or may recommend against a gas heater for your home altogether if there isn't proper ventilation. Otherwise, you can usually have gas plumbing installed in any home and choose a gas hot water heater if you prefer.
Will a bigger water heater ensure that all rooms get adequate hot water?
If you notice that rooms far away from the hot water heater don't always get adequate hot water, this isn't necessarily because of the size of the heater. When hot water travels through the pipes in the home, it can easily cool off. In turn, the rooms upstairs or on a side of the house away from the heater may not have adequate hot water, no matter the size of the heater itself. Insulating the pipes in the home can address this problem.
Why would a hot water heater continuously break down?
Every hot water heater has an expected lifespan, but if yours breaks down far sooner than it should, one common culprit is hard water. The minerals in hard water can collect and solidify inside a heater, which can then put undue pressure on many of its parts. This can also cause clogging of the pipes, so that the unit needs to work harder to push water through when you turn on the taps. A water softener can help alleviate this problem and ensure the heater does not get coated with these minerals, so it doesn't break down sooner than it should.
For more information, contact a hot water service professional.