Understanding Hot Water Systems

Guide to Hot Water Systems and Their Functions

There is nothing better after a long day at work than either taking a long, hot shower or soaking in a tub filled with hot water and tantalizing bath scents. Most people only think about this when they go to take a shower or bath and realize they have ice cold water flowing out.

As a owner, it’s a good idea to know about the these in your home. You will most likely never have to work on it yourself, but having a general idea of how it works can help you keep it maintained and working well for many years to come. Here in the United States, you have a couple varieties for your home or business and they fall under storage units.

Storage Heater

A storage heater is what most people have in their homes or is the type they have always known about. It stores water inside a tank that holds anywhere from 20 to 80 gallons. Each time someone in the home uses it for a bath, to wash dishes or do laundry, cold water pours back into the unit to make sure it stays filled all the time.

These systems are available in electric or gas fueled and they work non-stop to keep the water heated for use. With this type is the most common system found in most residential homes, a great deal of energy is used due to the constant heating. Gas or fuel heated chamber can lose energy through the way a tank is ventilated.

A storage boiler has numerous parts that must all work together. These parts include:

• Tank – It holds anywhere from 20 to 80 gallons.
• Shut-Off Valve – The shut off valve prevents water from flowing into the heating unit and is located on the outside of the unit near the top.
• Dip tube – The dip tube is the area the it enters at the top of the container before heading to the bottom of the tank.
• Thermostat – The thermostat is a thermometer that also controls the temperature.
• Heating mechanism – In an electric heater there is an element to heat. In a gas heater, there is a burner to heat.
• Drain – Situated at the bottom of the heating unit, the drain allows the container to empty so a plumber can replace the heating elements and other parts or to remove sediment or dirt.
• Pressure relief valve – This valve keeps the pressure at a safe zone so the boiler will not explode.

Tankless Heater

Unlike a storage heating unit, a tankless heating unit does not keep a full tank of water that is continuously heated. With a tankless heating unit, it is heated per use. It works like this:

• A faucet is turned on in the house
• The water flows into the boiler
• A sensor in the boiler detects the it’s presence
• The computer system in the boiler turns the burner on
• Water goes through the burner and heats up

Tankless broilers have gained popularity in recent years due to rising house energy costs. These units are available in electric or gas fueled and they can save a owner on their energy bill. These units need to be the appropriate size for the size of the house and the number of people who live in theere to ensure they are large enough to supply the necessary amount of hot water that will be needed.

Keeping the temperature set to a lower temperature can help save energy and reduce your electric or fuel bill.

If you are ready to have a new water warming unit installed or you need a repair on your old one, you can get a great estimate for service and have a licensed, bonded and insured plumber start the work fast by contacting a plumbing specialist at Anytime Plumbing by calling 831-431-6593.