Westland Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing Blog: Posts Tagged ‘water heater’

Why Now Is the Best Time for Water Heater Repairs

Monday, February 6th, 2023

Before we get into the details, we’d like to mention that any time is good for a water heater repair. While right now might be a good one (and arguably the best due to the changing season and water use habits), we’re always around to help customers in need. The truth is that hot water is required throughout the year and you deserve to have it. So a trained and licensed professional is always a welcome sight to have your system fixed, year-round.

But it’s true that some seasons are different. We’re in the coldest part of the winter right now and we’re almost into spring. This means we’re depending on our water heaters for hot showers, laundry, and other necessities. And soon, due to temperature increases, we might forget about them until the next fall or winter, leading to some stressful situations. Let’s get your water heater in Parma, OH back up and running again.

Tags: Parma, water heater, Water Heater Repair
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3 Tips to Extend the Lifespan of Your Water Heater

Monday, December 12th, 2022

Let’s face it, your water heater is going to need help this season. If recent trends are any indication, it’s likely to get cold this year and we’re going to need hot water to get through things. Most of our customers use storage tank water heaters, but even if you’re a tankless water heater user, you’ll still be able to benefit from the tips that we’re going to talk about in this blog.

Water heaters undergo a tremendous amount of pressure in the winter. From our hot baths to hot showers, we really can’t go without them or we face some serious discomfort and the inability to use our appliances like dishwashers and laundry machines. So, when it comes to your water heater in Berea, OH, do yourself a favor and take a few steps to ensure it works properly throughout the holiday season!

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Upgrades for Your Water Heater

Monday, October 19th, 2020

How is your water heater doing? Does it begrudgingly keep the water of your home relatively warm, while not really going above and beyond? Or perhaps it brings you joy every day because of the upgrade you had done on your system? Well, we’re here to talk to those that are struggling and explain that there are ways to reach happiness.

Water heaters come in two types: tank water heaters and tankless water heaters. Each one is unique at providing hot water in given circumstances, and it’s up to you (with our help) to figure out which water heater is right for you. Before you jump to conclusions about a water heater in Strongsville, OH, remember that conventional doesn’t mean better.

Tank water heaters are more common in our area, but that doesn’t mean they’re right for you. Let us talk about your water heater upgrade options and see what you think.

Tags: Strongsville, water heater, Water Heater Replacement
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What Does a Tankless Water Heater Do for Me?

Monday, July 20th, 2015

If you’re in the market for a new water heater, you may have heard about tankless models, which replace the big cylinders of the traditional model with a much smaller and sleeker unit. It can provide a number of advantages over the traditional model, enough to offset the larger start-up costs that are often involved. Here in Westlake, OH, you can talk to a qualified technician about what a tankless water heater can do for you. We’ve provided a quick breakdown of some of the advantages.

Tags: Air Conditioning, water heater, Westlake
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How a Failed Anode Rod can Lead to Water Heater Repair

Monday, April 6th, 2015

The typical storage tank water heater is exposed to millions of gallons of water over its lifetime. The most popular kind of water heater in the country, the storage tank water heater, keeps a large amount of water heated at all times in case it is needed. This leaves these systems extremely vulnerable to rust, which can rupture the tank and cause thousands of dollars in water damage to the surrounding area.

Why, then, does that not happen more often? Because of a safety part called the sacrificial anode rod. Read on to find out more about the sacrificial anode rod, and what can happen if it fails.

What is it?

The anode rod is a long metal rod, formed around a steel wire, which is inserted into the storage tank of your water heater. It is often made of either magnesium or aluminum, though zinc is also used in larger systems. While the anode rod is in the tank, it will degrade instead of the tank itself. This is where it gets the “sacrificial” part of its name. As long as the sacrificial anode rod is intact, then the water heater tank will be protected from rusting. There comes a point, however, when the anode rod is just too degraded to continue protecting the tank.

When the Anode Rod Fails

Once the anode rod has degraded down to the steel wire, it loses the ability to protect the water heater. At that point, the water heater will begin to rust. As the rust eats through the lining of the tank, it will weaken it to the point that the tank will start to spring leaks. Eventually, the tank will lose too much structural integrity and rupture. That is why it is so important to check your anode rod at least once a year, and replace it if need be.

If you aren’t sure how to check or replace your anode rod, call Westland Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide water heater repair services throughout Westlake, OH.

Tags: Anode Rod, water heater, Water Heater Repair
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Water Heater Components: The Dip Tube

Friday, January 30th, 2015

As you’ve certainly noticed before, your conventional water heater is quite large. And although these system may look like they contain a lot of complicated mechanisms that would be difficult to fix, many of the parts that are often responsible for water heater trouble can be somewhat simple to repair when the job is completed by a trained technician. One of these parts is the dip tube, a piece that is vital to water heater operation despite its simple design.

Storage tank water heaters, the most common type of water heater found in home, are still in such widespread use today despite the development of tankless water heaters that are much smaller. Much of the credit for the longevity of the storage tank goes to its simple but effective design. Water flows into the tank through the water supply pipe that feeds to the top of it. It moves into a long pipe that leads to the bottom of the tank known as the dip tube.

The cold water that first enters the tank must be pushed to the bottom of the tank for two reasons. First, this is where the burner is located, or it’s where one of two electric heating elements are positioned in an electric unit. Second, the heat rising principle establishes that the warm water will naturally rise over the denser cold water to the top of the tank. Hot water waits at the top of the tank and flows out through a smaller pipe at the top whenever you turn on a hot water tap.

So without a dip tube to force cold water to the bottom of the tank, water is not able to stay warm for very long. When you first turn on your hot water, it may be sufficient, but as your hot shower goes on, you’ll notice cooler water or patches of warm and cool. If the dip tube splits in half or cracks apart, cold water is able to stat at the top of the tank before it is heated. When this happens, a technician will usually replace the tube rather than attempting to seal the leak.

Call Westland Heating and Air Conditioning to learn more about our available water heater services in the Westlake area or to schedule an appointment today.

Tags: water heater, Westlake
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Why Am I Not Getting Enough Hot Water In My House?

Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

Your hot water heater contains a tank that provides instant hot water whenever you need it. If you use enough hot water, that reservoir will start to run down and you may sense the water cooling off a bit. That’s not abnormal. But what happens when a lack of hot water becomes a consistent issue; when you find yourself constantly asking, “why am I not getting enough hot water in my house?” Here in North Olmstead, professional water heater repair services can put those more serious problems at bay, but it helps to understand what those problems are first.

The first culprit in the case of a lack of hot water is the thermocouple, which turns off the gas when the pilot light isn’t on. If it’s malfunctioning, you might not be getting any hot water. It may also be functioning perfectly, in which case there is a problem with the pilot light itself.

The trouble may also lie with a faulty thermostat, which is misreading the temperature and sending “hot” water along that is anything but. Alternately, you could be dealing with a clogged vent or flue which prevents the water heater from venting. It might also be the dip tube, which forces cold water to the bottom of the tank and allows hot water to rise up for use. If it isn’t working, you could be getting cold water mixed in with your hot water.

Regardless of the causes, a certified expert can determine why you are not getting enough hot water in your house, then propose a viable solution. In most cases, that involves replacing the faulty component: usually a simple operation though one that requires professional expertise. In some cases, you may need to replace the entire water heater, especially if it’s an older unit with more problems than simply failing to provide hot water. And regardless if it’s a repair job or a replacement, it pays to set up a regular service plan to keep the heater running at peak capacity. Westland Heating and Air Conditioning handles North Olmstead water heater issues; call us today to set up a consultation!

Tags: Olmsted, water heater
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Westlake, OH Water Heaters: Tank or Tankless

Monday, February 25th, 2013

There is a lot of debate among homeowners and even many industry experts about which are better, tank or tankless water heaters. At Westland HVAC we believe that there is no such thing as one water heater option that is necessarily better than the other. We do understand, though, that there is always a model that is best for your specific home and personal hot water needs. Working with a water heater expert to choose your new water heater in Westlake, OH is the best way to ensure that you get the best water heater for your home. Here is some information to get you started.

Many homeowners choose to stand by their tried and true storage tank water heaters. A tank water heater is very dependable, as it stores a reservoir of hot water at the ready at all times. Of course, this means that that water must be continually heated, as some standby heat loss is inevitable. This is heat loss that occurs while the water is waiting to be used. Modern water heaters are very efficient, and you can buy jackets to further insulate your water heater’s tank. If standby energy loss is something you really wish to avoid, though, you may want to consider a tankless water heater installation in Westlake, OH.

Tankless water heaters completely eliminate the issue of standby heat loss by completely eliminating the need for a storage tank. Tankless water heaters heat water on demand, meaning that only the amount of water you need at that moment is heated. Cold water passes through the device, is heated nearly instantaneously, and sent to its destination. These tankless water heaters take up little space and are highly efficient. When asked to do multiple tasks, though, such as heat water for a shower and a load of dishes, water flow may suffer. This can be resolved by utilizing more than one tankless water heater.

For more information about tank and tankless water heaters or to schedule water heater installation in Westlake, OH call Westland HVAC. Our professional technicians can help you find the right water heater for your home. Contact us today to schedule service.

Tags: water heater, Westlake, Westlake OH
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