What Does the Inside of Your Water Heater Look Like?
Hot water is an essential part of our everyday lives. We need it for our showers, dishwashers, and more. The water that we use and drink enters our home through our plumbing system and is usually cold. The way we get hot water is through a water heater. Water heaters are a familiar fixture in most homes that are typically found in the basement or laundry room. Water heaters have made our lives better, but a lot of people don’t understand how they work or what they look like on the inside.
Let’s get into more detail about what types of water heaters there are, how they work, and what they look like on the inside.
If you happen to have questions about water heater installation or general repair, contact us and a member of our team will help answer any questions you may have.
How Does A Water Heater Work?
Water heaters are an integral part of every home, yet many of us don’t know what they do or how they work. While they are a pretty simple appliance, they have made our lives better every day. So how do they work? We’ll explain exactly how a water heater does its job!
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- It starts with the thermostat. The thermostat controls the temperature of the water inside the tank. You choose what temperature you’d like to set it at, but it is recommended that you keep it between 120 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
- After you’ve set the thermostat to your desired temperature. The dip tube takes the cold water from your home’s water supply and feeds it to the bottom of the tank where it begins heating up.
- Next, the heating mechanism, a gas burner for gas water heaters, and a heating element for electrical heaters turn on and stays on until the water is heated to your desired temperature.
- Once the water is heated up, the water rises through the heat-out pipe and exits into any appliances you are currently using.
The trick to a water heater is its design to separate the cold water from hot water. Water heaters rely on the principle that heat rises. This process in which a water heater heats up is what allows us to live comfortably in our homes.
Electric or Gas?
The majority of water heaters we see in homes have tanks. Water heaters rely on tanks to maintain a supply of hot water and they typically either gas or electric. The difference between gas and electric water heaters is the way they heat water. Both these basic fuel-type water heaters have positive and negative attributes. We’ll outline what the differences are and if you are thinking about installing a new water heater, give Shamrock Plumbing a call and we’ll help you with the installation process.
Electrical Water Heaters
Electrical water heaters use a heating element to heat the water and cost less to install upfront. There are three types of electrical water heaters, standard tanks, high-efficiency tanks, and hybrid heat pumps. The pros to electric water heaters are as follows:
- Fewer safety concerns
- Less energy loss
- Less maintenance
- Available in more sizes
While there are pros to electric water heaters, there are also cons. The cons to electric water heaters are as follows.
- Higher monthly costs
- Doesn’t heat water as quickly
- Will not work during power outages
Gas Water Heaters
Gas water heaters use a burner to heat water and cost less monthly. This type of water heater is what we see most commonly in homes. The pros to gas water heaters are:
- Heats water the fastest
- Comes in a range of sizes
- Still useable during a power outage
- High-efficiency models available
Though gas water heaters are typically what most homeowners choose they still have some cons to them. They are as follows:
- Higher upfront costs
- More maintenance
- More energy loss
Both these types of water heaters provide your home with hot water and here at Shamrock Plumbing, we can install either. If you have any additional questions about which water heater will work best for your home, contact us and we’d be happy to help!
When To Replace Your Water Heater
We often don’t think about our water heaters until something goes wrong. The lifespan of a water heater is anywhere from eight to 15 years and as they get older they don’t produce as well. Every homeowner will likely have to replace their water heater at least once. There is nothing worse than getting caught in a cold shower, so check for these signs of a dying water heater:
- Water isn’t getting hot enough or isn’t getting hot at all.
- Your water tank shows signs of rust and decay.
- Your water heater is making strange noises.
- Your water heater is older than 8 years.
These are just some of the signs you need to look out for when it comes to replacing your water heater. If you believe that it is time to replace your water heater, contact us and we’d be happy to help. We install all types of major brands of tank water heaters for your convenience.
We have become Utah’s go-to plumbers when it comes to water heater installation. We also specialize in repair for any existing units. You can trust us to use our expertise to keep your home’s hot water supply flowing! Call us today for a free estimate at 801-505-9505
