The code change was part of an initiative to save energy. A power vent water heater requires a 4″ diameter vent and a traditional water heater only requires a 3″ vent. This can create a problems when trying to upgrade your existing water heater for a power vent water heater. You should make sure that you have a licensed plumber come out to verify that your flue is big enough to support the large flue.

A power vent water heater does have it’s advantages. This is what we recommend for anybody that is considering a tankless water heater in an effort to become more energy efficient. You should be able to make up the additional cost of a power vent water heater within the first 3-4 years of the purchase.

A water heater blanket is not a big investment, it will usually go for around $30-$50 depending on the size and quality of the blanket. One of questions we are frequently asked about water heater blankets are whether or not they are worth the investment. There are several factors that are involved in the payback on this investment.

The biggest factor on the effectiveness of a water heater blanket is going to be the climate you live in as well as the location of the water heater. If you live in Gunnison Colorado and your water heater is located in your uninsulated garage, this is an investment that is going to make sense for you. However, if you live in Florida and your water heater is located inside your house it’s not going to give you much for savings.

Some water heaters are not designed to work with a water heater blanket. You should always check the owner’s manual to see what water heaters are compatible with these blankets. You should also make sure that you get the right type of water heater blanket. Water Heaters come in many different sizes and vary in both circumference and height. You should also verify that you have access to the heating elements or burner and control valve.

The most important thing you can do for water heater maintenance is to flush out your water heater on a yearly basis. There are a few tips on how to flush out your water heater in the best way possible. When you drain out a water heater you can get some of the sediment that has built up out of your hot water tank.

The best way to flush the heater is to hook up a hose to your drain valve. You should open the drain valve when your water is still on to force out as much water as possible. Let this run for about 3 minutes on full blast. Once you have complete this step you should turn the water off and allow the water to drain out of your water heater.

This can take a few minutes especially if your water heater is old. Sometimes the water doesn’t want to come out of the drain valve. In this case you may need to remove the handle screw and remove that portion of the valve. If this still does not allow the water to come out you can remove the valve all together. The valve can be removed by turning it counterclockwise until it releases from the tank. Make sure to use teflon tape when you reinstall the drain valve.

Commercial water heaters will vary greatly in price mainly due to the output and energy specifications. A water heater that has a quick recovery system can easily outproduce a much larger tank. For instance some 80 gallon water heaters will  significantly outperform other 100 gallon tanks. The price difference can also vary several thousand dollars. A 100 gallon commercial water heater can start out at $1800 and can go up to $7000, some are even higher.

Another option that people often ask about when they are not getting enough hot water is to go with a larger unit such as a 75 or 80 gallon water heater. There are several different types of large capacity units, most of them are commercial water heaters. Some commercial water heaters can exceed over $3000 just for the tank alone. However for residential applications you can use a Bradford White 75 gallon water heater which will cost a little over $1200.

The third option for increasing your hot water supply is to install a second water heater. When installing two water heaters there are two methods that are commonly used are the Series installation and Parallel Installation. For most cases we will usually recommend installing the water heaters in series. This is going to be the most efficient way to install the units and it’s also easier to install.

Most of the time if a water heater is draining properly it should only take about an hour to drain down. If you are using a hose to drain your water heater it will usually take a little longer than if you are draining it right onto the floor. We have had some water heaters that just don’t see to want to drain at all. In this case we will open up the t&p valve that is located on either the side or top of the water heater. Opening the tp valve will help vent the water heater and increase the flow of water.

The biggest problem with Whirlpool water heaters is the pilot light going out. This can be caused by a number of things and can cost quite a bit to troubleshoot. One of the most common issues with the Whirlpool water heaters is a faulty burner. We have seen so many of these that have issues with the pilot light going out every 4 or 5 hours.

Other complaints of older Whirlpool water heaters consist of a general lack of hot water. If the water heater is not putting out enough hot water to begin with, it’s probably not worth spending the money on a repair.

We recommend Bradford White water heaters. Bradford White makes a much better tank that has far less problems and seems to produce more hot water for longer periods of time. Stay away from Whirlpool tanks.

A water heater should be drained down at least once per year. Draining the water heater will help remove some of the sediment that naturally builds up in your water heater. By draining your water heater you can increase the lifespan of the tank.

If you are trying to drain your water heater but it doesn’t seem to want to drain down that best trick is to pull the t&p valve that is located either on top or the side of the water heater. Make sure that you have turned the valve feeding into the water heater off to prevent the water from filling back up. The T&P valve should let air into the tank which will allow the water to drain down. You can also try opening a faucet on the hot water side.

Another problem that we have ran into with particularly old water heaters is the drain valve not releasing all the way.

There are several things to consider when evaluating various types of water heaters. Recovery time, efficiency, lifespan, and cost are all factors that will influence which water heater works the best for you. As of right now, most energy efficient water heaters cost more than they save.

One of the reasons we like to install and recommend Bradford White water heaters is because they are easy to work on and we stock parts on all of our trucks. Having to wait on a $10 part for a water heater may not be an option if your tank is not working. For most families, going a day or two without hot water is not an option.