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Advantages and Disadvantages of Having Tankless Water Heaters

Are you sick of your shower that becomes cold even before you end washing? Or are you tired of always attempting to ration the amount of hot water among your several household members every day? Maybe you need to think about having a tankless water heater.  

Instead of maintaining a limited volume of heated water in-store, similar to what conventional water heater does, a tankless heater can heat your water whenever you want. This is done through flowing cold water through a pipe that’s heated with a gas or electric-powered unit. To help you decide whether this type of heater suits your lifestyle, let us try to weigh in some advantages and disadvantages of having this appliance.  

ADVANTAGES 

Extended lifespan 

If you decide to install a tankless water heater, it can possibly last for nearly 20 years. While its old versions can still last for about 10 years. 

Saves energy 

A traditional water heater can only heat the water in it to a particular temperature level and keeps it there regardless if you need or don’t need it as of the moment. Because of this, maintaining the water at that regulated temperature always during the day will be required to consume energy.  A tankless heater will only operate once you actually utilize it. With this, you can save up to 50 percent of the energy, which often leads to reduced energy consumptions.  

Smaller footprint 

Since this type of heaters doesn’t have a large holding tank, they can better fit into more compact areas. When you are planning to build a new house and you wish to save some space, it would be best to get a tankless heater.  

Hot water on demand 

When your household members simultaneously shower within a similar time of the day or you just usually like to take long showers, then having a tankless water heater is for you. This heater is perfect since it can give a constant hot water flow for as long as you want and need it rather than only giving you a limited volume of hot water. 

Disadvantages 

Bigger families require bigger units 

Even if a tankless heater can work on demand, a small version cannot usually keep up with the number of water demand at the same time. Even if a bigger heating unit can cost more, you should definitely consider getting one especially if you have high hot water demands or you have a large family. 

Higher starting expenses 

Compared to the traditional water heaters, the tankless water heater is more costly to buy and install. Yes, you can surely save some money on your energy consumptions during the entire year. Meaning, you can actually recoup the additional cost. However, the initial price tag is just higher.  

Do you need assistance with your water heater? 

Regardless if you are now opting to have tankless heaters or you just want somebody to help you with your needed water heater repair in St. Charles, we are ready to serve you. Give us a call today for more details. 

Common Indicators That Your Water Heater is Acting Up

During a nice winter morning, imagine enjoying the moment as you drink your hot coffee. To start your day, you head into your bathroom to switch on your water heater only to find out that it’s acting up. If this happens, try to recall when was the last time you have had your water heating systems inspected. To know whether you really need to have it checked and repaired right away, it’s only reasonable to learn about the possible warning signs that there’s something wrong with your water heaters and what they need to be fixed. Here are some of the common signs to pay attention to: 

Strange sounds 

Modern water heaters are perfect for those who want to heat water without any sound. When you can see that your water heater’s noise level changes, this could possibly mean that there is already an existing or developing issue going on. The longer you choose to delay fixing the issue, the more expensive and extreme it gets.  So, if you can hear weird and loud noises from your device, make sure to immediately switch it off and book for a water heater repair in Campton Hills today. If interested, you can visit our page or call us directly.  

Leakage 

Though this may appear as an apparent sign, the part of the task of water heaters is to keep water in the pipes and tanks. While the water heater becomes older, the water will tend to be more prone to leak. Once your water leaker has leaks, it won’t just minimize the volume of hot water that it can transfer to your house, but it can also cause an unwanted boost in your water bill. Make sure to replace the leaking hot water heater ASAP. But, still, keep in mind that you need to inspect the issues before you conclude on the errors and faults. For instance, you need to check the surrounding pipes for leaks.  

Changing temperature 

The water seems to be very hot in one second while sometimes too cold. Water temperature changes and fluctuation are simple to neglect. However, take note that this can possibly result in major issues with your water heater, which will just become worse sooner or later.  

When the water’s still either too cold or too hot, even if the temperature of our thermostat is set, you wouldn’t be sure about what the indications of your bad water heater are. Hence, once you observe this issue, make sure to immediately change your water heater.  

Almost no hot water 

After having a brief hot shower, you still cannot almost notice any water left for other tasks. Commonly, quality water heaters provide sufficient water to endure and make it through the entire day. Regardless if it’s for any activity or washing dishes that are impossible to be done using cold water. Eventually, when this water crunch won’t be solved, you can possibly experience one of the top signs that your water heater is not working properly anymore. 

Reasons to Install a Home Water Filter System

Clean water is crucial to our health for cooking our food, showering, and drinking. Almost every person nowadays drunk chlorine-treated water that still contains a lot of impurities, chemicals, and harmful bacteria. Water is vital to maintain life.  

However, only a small percentage of water is healthy to drink. Water from your tap might not be pure, even though it passes through a water treatment facility. The reason for this is that it’s easy for water to accumulate contaminants after it has left the water treatment facility. If you want to have a good supply of pure and clean water in your house, it is best to install a home water filter system. Here are several reasons why: 

Save on Soap 

A high-quality home water filter system works like a water softener. This will help you utilize less soap to clean your clothes, dishes, and body. Hard water has minerals that stop the ionic property of soap. Therefore, its cleaning ability is lowered. 

Lower Plumbing Repair Bills 

If you use filtered water, you can lower your plumbing repairs and reduce your repair bills. Chemicals, minerals, and heavy metals in unfiltered water can lead to damages to your plumbing system. Aside from the pipes, other home appliances that utilize water can also be affected. This includes washing machine, dishwasher, garbage disposal, fridge ice maker, and water dispenser.  

Cost Savings 

If you are always purchasing bottled water, you will greatly save a lot of money if you install a water filter at your house. For instance, you will be able to save around $680 per year if there are 4 people in your house that drink bottled water every day.  

Lower Aggravation on Skin Diseases 

Impurities such as chlorine, fluoride, and heavy metals in the water can worsen skin illnesses. This includes eczema and psoriasis. You can prevent this from happening if you install a home water filter system. This is particularly true if you’ve got kids. 

Protect the Environment 

Every year, billions of plastic water bottles are purchased in the United States. Unfortunately, only 40% of these bottles are recycled. Most of the bottles will end up in landfills. If you’ve got a home water filtration system, you won’t have to purchase bottled water anymore. Thus, you won’t be adding more plastic to landfills.  

Clean Water Anytime 

You are guaranteed that you’ve got healthy drinking water if you filter your water. even if it has come from the water treatment plant, tap water will still contain impurities such as lead.  

In addition to that, water treatment facilities add chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride to the water to treat it. If you’ve got a high-quality home water filter system, these impurities and chemicals will be eliminated, together with most of the toxins in the water.  

In addition to that, you’ll have access to clean water anytime. Unlike bottled water, you’ll have to purchase them from shops. If you don’t have a grocery store near you, this can be a hassle. A home water filter can get rid of this problem. 

Common Types of Water Filters for Your Home

There are a lot of forms of water filter, also known as a water purification system, available in the market. All of these systems use various water purification methods to generate better, safer, and cleaner water for you and your loved ones. 

However, how can you choose the ideal type of water filter for your house? Fortunately, we are here to help.  

With more and more impurities found in the water because of environmental and industrial aspects, it is vital for people to know more about various whole house water filter systems.  

GAC (Granular Activated Carbon)  

This works the same way as the activated carbon block. It gets rid of the odor and taste of chlorine.  

The GAC contains loose carbon granules that are bigger compared to powder of activated carbon block. This leads to lower impurities absorption but better rate of water filtration, unlike carbon block.  

You can use this filtration system as a pre-filter to protect the carbon block filter from bigger particles and obtain better removal for chlorine odor and taste, chemicals, and other impurities in your tap water. 

It is best used for low-intensity and high-flow filtration because of its high water flow rate.  

ACB (Activated Carbon Block) 

The ACB is made of tiny carbon powder that stays static and held together with the help of a binding agent. It is extremely effective in getting rid of impurities, chemicals, and chlorine odor and taste. 

In addition to that, the ACB is able to lower contaminants such as microscopic cysts, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), and lead in water. 

The ACB creates a high porosity powder that leads to a bigger surface area. This enables it to absorb more impurities in water and stop water from channeling. In addition to that, it has high resistance against the growth of bacteria because of its small pore size.  

Sediment Filtration 

The most basic and common water filtration system in the world is the sediment filtration. It is commonly utilized throughout the world in industrial, commercial, and residential water treatment.  

It works extremely well in getting rid of sediments such as heavy metals, silt, dust, sand, rust, and other big particles in water. 

A sediment filter is typically made from pleated polyester or melt-blown polypropylene. It has a micron rating that ranges from 1-100 microns.  

For those who don’t know, the micron rating shows the size of the filter’s pores. If the filter has a lower micron rating, it means that it is best at filtrating the water. It’s able to filter out smaller size impurities. However, it offers a slower water flow rate.  

You can use it together with other filters to offer better filtration or use it alone as a point of entry home filtration.  

This type of filter is usually used as a pre-filter in other water filtration systems such as the ACB. This will help protect the rest of the filters from getting clogged by huge particles. However, you can still use it alone for your whole house filtration system.  

Reasons to Examine Your Water Heater’s Anode Rod

For those who don’t know, water corrodes a lot of types of metals. This is a fact of nature. However, with the invention of the water heater, there is a bit of cleverness that comes with it. If you present a rod that can be corroded easily, the water will react with that and will leave the steel alone. 

This is the main purpose of the anode rod of your water heater. It is a metal rod used in a water heater storage tank. If you do not have an anode rod, your water heater will rust out quickly. 

If you want to avoid costly water heater repair in Indianapolis, here are several reasons why you have to regularly check the anode rod of your water heater: 

Examining and Replacing the Anode Rod 

The anode rod’s lifespan greatly depends on whether you’ve got hard or soft water. Typically, soft water tends to rust metal easily. Because of this, your rod will probably dissolve within a year.  

You need to examine your water heater’s anode rod every year. You might be able to do this yourself if you’ve got a water heater model with a rod that is easily accessible. But, perhaps it is ideal to hire a professional water heater repair technician if you aren’t able to locate the anode rod or you aren’t sure about your model. This will help avoid accidents and damages.  

It is time to replace the rod if it has deteriorated to the point where big parts of the wire are showing the core.  

Aluminum and Magnesium 

You can buy anode rods at almost every home improvement shop. You can also contact your plumber to buy one from him. Usually, the price of an anode rod runs around $10-$60. The material the rods are made from is one of the biggest differences you will see among them. Aluminum and magnesium are the most common materials. Here are their benefits and drawbacks: 

  • Aluminum 

Oftentimes, it is combined with zinc in anode rods. These rods have a tendency to be cheaper and last longer. However, they do not offer the same level of protection. Aluminum rods can actually neutralize odors in water, unlike magnesium. Several homeowners are worried about aluminum levels in their drinking water. However, people usually do not drink water from the water tank. 

  • Magnesium 

This provides better protection overall. However, it has a tendency to have a shorter life. Aside from that, it is not cheap. Magnesium can occasionally poorly react with particular water chemistry to generate a sulfur-like odor.  

Since anode rod dissolves, where do the dissolved metals go? Well, most of the dissolved metals will end up at the bottom of the water heater tank as sediment. This can affect the performance of your water heater if you allow it to accumulate for too long. To avoid this type of problem, you will have to contact a professional water heater repair technician to perform a water heater flushing service regularly. Once a year is enough.