Losing hot water is an inconvenience that can be avoided in most cases by paying attention to the age of your hot water heater, and listening for signs of water tank problems.
Your hot water heater is an appliance that’s not given much thought until it begins to show wear. Issues such as leaks, noises, discolored water, mineral deposits among others, are signs that it’s time to call an experienced plumbing technician for New Vernon NJ Water heater replacement. Like anything else, the lifespan of your hot water tank can be extended with occasional maintenance. Few homeowners know this, however, because their installer never told them about the importance of maintenance, particularly if you have hard water.
Neglect is a primary cause of hot water heater failure.
Stashluk has helped many homeowners save money throughout its service areas of Union, Morris, Somerset and Essex counties by extending the life of hot water tanks with occasional maintenance. Should a tank fail and replacement be necessary, Stashluk sells, installs and services hot water tanks from leading brands such as Rheem and Bradford White. Service and sales of other brands are also available upon request.
So what can you do to extend the life of the water heater? First, recognize the signs that suggest maintenance is required:
- Strange rumbling sounds are a sign that you probably have calcium and lime residue in your tank. These mineral deposits sit at the bottom of the tank. As the burner kicks on and heats water below the sediment it causes it to bubble up through the deposits. This action creates the odd sounds that you hear. By flushing out the tank Stashluk can clear out the deposits and help improve energy efficiency and performance.
- If your water is discolored there are a couple of culprits to investigate:
- Hot water heaters have something called an anode rod, which is essentially a ‘sacrificial lamb’ designed to attract corrosive elements within the tank, rather than allowing them to corrode the inside of the tank itself. An anode rod can last anywhere from 3-5 years depending on the nature of your water. When it corrodes it can give the water a rusty hue.
- Bacteria can give your water an orange tint. You might notice it in places like your shower floor or wherever else there are plumbing fixtures such as sinks, toilet bowls, etc. A Stashluk home inspection can diagnose the problem and make any repairs or parts replacements necessary.
- If you suddenly have cold water there can be several causes that are responsible. A leak associated with the tank or a ruptured tank itself obviously will need replacement. A leak that’s attributed to a plumbing connection can likely be repaired while sparing the tank. On the other hand, if you have a malfunctioning thermostat or a bad thermocouple these can easily be replaced by your Stashluk technician. If the pilot light has gone out, you can follow the directions posted on the tank to re-light it or we recommend you let a pro from Stashluk handle it. Better to be safe.
In need of New Vernon NJ water heater replacement? If necessary, choose the right size.
Whether your home in New Vernon is a stately mansion or a comfortable Colonial, you want to be sure you choose the right size hot water heater when purchasing a replacement. Depending on the size of your home and how many inhabitants there are, you’ll need a tank that’s right-sized to suit your needs while keeping an eye on energy efficiency.
Stashluk can help you make the right decision for your New Vernon NJ water heater replacement by evaluating your needs and then calculating the size tank you’ll need to handle demand. If your family has teenagers and you have several bathrooms where everyone is hustling to get out the door each weekday morning, you’ll want a hot water heater that can supply hot water for several showers running at once. If there are only two or three of you in the home, an average 40-gallon tank should be plenty.
Are tankless hot water heaters a viable option?
Tankless water heaters heat water on-demand. There is no tank taking up floor space in the basement or utility room. The unit is actually mounted to a wall. Tankless water heaters can also outlast hot water heater tanks by an average of 5-10 years if they’ve been properly maintained. Many people like these features of tankless systems and Stashluk is happy to install them. But there are important differences to keep in mind.
While many homeowners are unaware that tank water heaters should be maintained and let them go for years without a maintenance inspection, neglecting a tankless water heater is another story which can lead to big problems and costs.
For example, mineral buildup in a tankless heating system can do a real number on the heater and might not be covered by your warranty. That’s why it’s important that the system get flushed on a regular basis to avoid mineral buildup. Secondly, unlike a tank system, there are lots of parts to a tankless system, plumbing and electrical, any one of which can fail and leave you without hot water.
Will a tankless system produce enough hot water for my family?
The concept of hot water on demand sounds like a good idea in theory, but in practice it can be much harder to achieve once there are concurrent demands. If you have several folks in your home who need to take a shower at the same time, it can be difficult for a tankless hot water heater to keep up. In a tank system the initial cool flow that occurs once you turn on the faucet will eventually pass and hot water will persist. In a tankless system, however, the initial flow of hot water will arrive more quickly but once the second shower is turned on it may never again reach the original temperature while both showers are running. So instead of one person taking a hot shower there will be two or three people in the house taking warm or cool showers.
Furthermore, tankless systems are also much more expensive to install and it can take many years before you break even when compared to a hot water tank system.
Are you having hot water heater problems? Call Stashluk for New Vernon NJ water heater replacement.
Whether you have a tank or a tankless system, your Stashluk technician will diagnose your problem quickly and recommend a proven course of action. For sales or service, we are the plumbing, heating, air conditioning and generator experts you can count on. Give us a call and see why we’ve been the choice of generations of homeowners and commercial customers for over 70 years. Call today to schedule an appointment, 908.277.6200.
