Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 3, March 2004
Copyright 2004 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.
AROUND THE HOME:
What you should know about water heaters
By MATT MAURY
What can be more disappointing than getting ready for a bath or a shower and finding that there is NO HOT WATER?
The cause could be as simple as a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker on an electric hot water heater. Or, it could be that the pilot-light has become extinguished on a gas model.
Usually, however, it is something more serious. Decisions have to be made on a spur-of-the-moment basis and there are no ready reference materials or consumer magazine articles available.
Since every homeowner will face a hot water heater problem sooner or later, now is a good time to get the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Q: How does a water heater work?
A: There are two types of water heaters in general use electric and gas. Electric models are found in many older homes. They have large metal tanks lined on the inside with glass. There are usually two heating elements controlled by thermostats one near the upper third of the tank, the other near the bottom. The thermostats allow only one element to heat at a time. As hot water is drawn off the top of the tank, cold water fills the tank at the bottom. The lower element then turns on to heat this new water. If a large amount of hot water is used and the temperature at the top of the tank falls below the thermostat's setting, the upper element is activated.
Gas models are prevalent in homes heated with natural gas. They, too, are glass-lined metal tanks. Rather than heating elements, a gas model has burner at the bottom of the tank. When hot water is drawn off the top of the tank, the cold replacement water enters at the bottom. The tank's single thermostat reacts to the lower temperature of the new water and causes the burner to ignite. Hot gasses are vented through a flue in the tank, which warms the water.
Q: What breaks down in a water heater?
A: In electric models, the most frequent breakdowns are in the lower heating element and the thermostats. In gas units, it's the thermostats and elements of the burner and thermocouple. In both types, as the units age, there is the possibility of interior parts rusting which eventually leads to tank leakage.
Q: At what point in time is it better to replace, rather than repair, a broken water heater?
A: Depending on the quality of the original tank, during the first 10 years of tank life it is wise to repair the tank. Past that, replace is generally recommended.
Q: Which makes and models are best?
A: There are a number of fine manufacturers A.O. Smith and Rheem to mention a couple. Like refrigerators, models vary in shape and capacity to meet differing space and household requirements. And, like other appliances, there are a variety of price points determined by the hot water tanks' features.
Inexpensive units, such as the types available at warehouse stores, generally have small heating elements or burners and limited insulation to keep the water warm. This will result in inefficient, slow hot water recovery and higher operating costs because of heat loss through the tank's sidewalls.
On the other hand, the higher priced models have better quality parts, more insulation, and offer guarantees of up to 10 years on the tanks. The energy saving models can more than pay for themselves over their lifetime, plus provide more hot water quickly, when needed.
Q: Are there advantages in switching from electric to gas when buying a new unit?
A: Gas hot water heaters do offer some advantages: lower operating costs, faster recovery (they can heat as much as twice the volume per hour as electric units) and, by virtue of an on-going pilot light, continuing hot water during power outages. However, because the gas units must be exhaust vented to the outside, there can be as much as $1,000 of "hook-up" expenses in addition to the cost of the new water heater.
Q: Do the new models heat water as hot as older ones?
A: When new units are installed, many people find that the water does not seem as hot as it used to be. Washington state laws require that thermostats be set at 120 degrees at installation. In many cases, people have had their existing units set higher. When purchasing a new water heater or having one installed by a professional, always ask to be shown how the thermostat works.
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Matt Maury is president of the Home Owners Club of Seattle. His column is intended to help homeowners better understand the complexities of owning and maintaining their residences. Send questions or comments to: news@theseattlesun.com