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A Helpful Guide on Water Heaters

Plumbing

If you’re a homeowner, you know there are a few crucial features that “run the show” in your living space. From the kitchen sink to the toilet down the hall, these fixtures are vital for survival — but let’s not forget about your water heater!

Usually overlooked, your water heater is responsible for providing you and your family with hot H2O around the clock — and without it, you’d be looking at cold water being distributed from every plumbing fixture.

However, if you’re looking to get more in-tune with your home’s water heater and water heaters as a whole, here are a few essential things you need to know.

Tips on Water Heaters

They Don’t Last Forever

Unfortunately, water heaters have an expiration date. Typically, it’s about ten years after the unit was installed in your home — and through annual maintenance and upkeep, you can keep your water heater around for quite some time.

However, other factors can lessen your water heater’s lifespan, such as:

  • Putting off annual maintenance/tune-ups.

  • Letting repairs fall by the wayside.

  • Ignoring strange sounds when it’s in use.

  • Overlooking visible signs of rust on the tank.

When it becomes inevitable that you need to have your water heater replaced, there are a few different options you can choose from to get the most bang for your buck.

There are a Variety of Options to Choose From

If a poll was taken on what type of water heater most homeowners have installed in their humble abodes, chances are, they have a storage-tank model. However, in recent years, the tankless water heater has been introduced to perform the same functions on a less-bulky scale.

Before replacing your water heater with the same model, here are some options to consider:

Storage-Tank Water Heaters

When water heaters are depicted in film and television, a storage-tank model is usually front and center. These insulated steel tanks store water in their “stomach” and keep it heated around the clock — so you’ll never run out of hot H2O when you need it the most.

Besides having warm water readily available, storage-tank water heaters are very simple to operate and require annual maintenance from a professional plumber to keep them in tip-top shape for the years to come. Additionally, storage-tanks are also more budget-friendly upfront and are now manufactured to be more energy-efficient!

Tankless Water Heaters

Known as the “younger sibling” of storage-tank water heaters, these new wave models are small, compact, and mount to the wall — since they do not have a tank to store and heat water! Tankless water heaters heat water on-demand and do not need to constantly heat water around the clock (like a storage tank unit does).

Another perk about tankless water heaters is that they’re very energy-efficient, and they have a lifespan of up to 20 years — with proper annual care, of course. Tankless water heaters are the perfect solution for many homes, especially for smaller-sized living spaces that don’t have the room to accommodate a storage-tank water heater.

Newer Models Host Many Benefits

Suppose your current water heater doesn’t need to be replaced right away, but you’re considering making the switch to a newer unit before the “expiration date.” If this is the case, you’ll be delighted to know that more recent models offer a slew of incredible benefits — such as:

  • More energy-efficient than older models.

  • Provide hot water much quicker, making it more readily available.

  • Fuel costs are cheaper, keeping your bills on the lower side.

We’re Metairie’s Go-To Water Heater Specialists!

Whether you’re looking to replace, repair, or maintain your water heater, Stuart Services is standing by and ready to help! To learn more about our water heater services or to schedule your appointment with our team of pros, give us a call at 504-321-2079!

We look forward to helping you and your family!