Hot Water Heater Call the Plumber

If you are getting ready to move into a new home, you might be wondering what type of hot water tank you want to install. There are advantages and disadvantages to both gas and electric powered hot water tanks. I cant say one is better than the other, it just depends on what your situation is. By knowing the difference between the two types of hot water heaters, you will know which one it is that you want to get.

Before I get into explained the differences between the two types of tanks, I should explain what a hot water heater is, and how it works. A hot water tank is a device that heats and stores water. It is connected to the main water line, and as the water goes into the tank, it is heated by either flame or a heating element. Once the water reaches the desired temperature, the process used to heat it shuts off automatically until either the hot water is used, or it cools down.

Propane and natural gas hot water tanks use flame to heat the water. IN the case of propane, a propane storage tank is placed outside, and gas lines run underground to the hot water tank. Once the propane tank is full, if you have a new hot water tank you will need to light the pilot. Once the pilot light is lit, when you set the tank to the desired water temperature, a blue fame will ignite under the water tank and heat the water. Once the water reaches the desired temperature, the flames will go out, but the pilot light will remain lit.

An advantage of your electric hot water tank is that so long as it is working properly, you will have hot water so long as you have electricity. Some electric companies will install them for you, and they dont need to be ventilated. Because they dont need to be ventilated, they are easier to store and install. There is no separate bill for your hot water it just raises your monthly electric bill a bit.

Both types of hot water heaters will be equipped with a pressure release valve. If the water temperature is set too high, steam can create a tremendous amount of pressure. The pressure release valve releases some of the water when this happens. This eases the pressure built up on the inside of the tank, and keeps it from exploding.

The advantage of having a propane hot water tank is that it heats the water faster. This is ideal for large families that take showers close to the same time each day. Also, if there is a power outage, it will not affect the hot water tank. Having a gas powered hot water heater will not raise your electric bill.

There are many different sizes of tanks, and the size you get should correlate to the size of your family. If you are a single person with a large tank, you are wasting energy and money. If you have a large family and a small electric hot water tank, you have probably had to take a cold shower once or twice.

There is a different type of hot water heater that I havent discussed, a solar powered hot water heater. These types of heaters are designed to be supplemental to your gas or electric powered hot water tank. How it works is, water is pumped to a heating unit usually stored on your roof where it is heated and piped to your tank.

San Jose Plumbing Commercial Plumbing Service, San Jose, California Penny Saver Plumbing offers fast, friendly and affordable commercial plumbing Service across the San Jose metro area. We offer professional, licensed and insured plumbers. Our service is guaranteed and we get the job done right the first time.