Operating a Water Heater

The choice of a type of water heater is directly dependent on your domestic hot water, but also of your heating system. The operation of the water heater is not the same if the unit is to produce instant hot water or storage in electric power or gas.

Energy of water heater: electrical, gas, solar...?

Electric water heater can have one or two heating elements according to the hot water needs of the home and can be installed in any room of the house if the installation rules are followed. The gas water heater can produce hot water with a low energy cost. There are different types. The solar water heater can be of different types and their purchase price as well as their installation remains a high cost. However, it is possible to benefit from subsidies and tax reductions. The heat pump water heater is a direct alternative to solar water heater while ensuring all hot water needs of a household, it incorporates a heat pump.

Hot water production

There are two types of devices for the production of domestic hot water:

* Hot water balloon or accumulation apparatus: hot water is stored.

* Tankless water: hot water is available immediately. It produces hot water "on demand". It has no storage tank and is reserved principally for one or two water points away from the main source of hot water production.

Usage of the water heater: domestic hot water, swimming pool...?

The hot water production can meet different needs such as:

* Domestic hot water: the choices available to you to generate domestic hot water should match not only your needs but also your heating system if applicable to the energy available in the housing configuration and your region.

* Pool water heater: you want to use your pool all the year, extend the summer, your water is too cold for you? You can warm the water in your pool, various heating systems exist, but costs as well as their effectiveness vary widely.

* Camper water heater: if you own an RV, you want to have a hot water quantity that meets your needs and at the right temperature.

Temperature of the water heater: power, thermostat...

The temperature of the water heater is an important element to adjust the hot water at the right temperature. For this, it will pick a suitable power of water heater. Then it is the thermostat that adjusts the temperature. The contactor day/night, can take advantage of off-peak hours:

* Power of the heater: for your needs in hot water, you need water heating appliances. In gas, electric or solar, it must determine the power and capacity of your devices.

* Temperature of the water heater: well set the temperature of the water heater, it is saving on the bill and it ensures ease of use in everyday life.

* Water heater thermostat: regardless of the energy used, the thermostat allows you to set the output temperature of water from your water heater.

* Day night switch of heater: Reserved for electrical installations, the day night switch can be provided for the design, but also connected to an old facility. It can trigger your water heater option "off hours" under condition of a compatible electric subscription.

Installing the water heater: location and connection

Whatever type of your water heater, implementation and installation rules are different, but all must comply with the regulations. They must be connected to the mains and sanitary water.

Water heater implantation: mini, vertical or horizontal?

There are three types of implantation for a water heater: the Mini heater is small and compact, it installs easily anywhere closer to the outlet points, even in the most complex cases. The vertical water heater is small and compact, it installs easily also. horizontal water heater is to choose if you can not do otherwise. It must have at least 50 more than the vertical water heater to identical hot water needs.

What connections to the water heater: electrical, plumbing...

During installation, a water heater must always be connected to the mains and sanitary water:

* Diagram of the water heater: how to connect your cumulus?

* Plumbing and water heater: what are the rules to follow?

* Buffer balloon: it stores your water avoiding temperature variations across the hot water circuit. 

This is an isolated balloon, it can be used for all types of energy, but especially for the CAP, solar.

* Pressure reducer for water heaters: installed after the water meter, it reduces the pressure of water and avoids problems on your system in general and on your water heater in particular.

Solar water heaters: in kit or make your own?

To install a solar water heater at home, two solutions are available to you. The solar water heater kit contains everything you need to install your solar water heater. The composition of the kits is not always the same; it depends on your needs. Building a solar water heater is a more difficult solution to implement than the kit, you must be a good handyman, select each element and know to implement them. Although cheaper than the kit, the solar water heater "homemade" is amortized in about 8 years against 12 years for the kit.

Maintenance of the water heater: Drain and descaling

The maintenance of the water heater is essential to keep it in good working order and save money on your bill. It passes through the drain of the water heater. This is simple to perform and allows you to achieve energy savings while extending its good working order. It also requires the scaling of the heater. The cleaning of your water heater heating element guarantees the safety of your plant while avoiding over-consumption or failure.

Parts of the water heater: how to replace them?

If, despite regular maintenance, your water heater fails or malfunctions, it is perhaps a defective part:

* Thermocouple: This is a security organ of your water heater. It checks whether the pilot flame is lit and cut the gas when needed. If your water heater is often off and eventually stops working, it may be time to clean or replace.

* Resistance of the water heater: It can heat the water in your water heater. Over time, the resistance will calcify, it takes more energy to heat the water and sometimes it longer performs its function, you can change it.

* Anode water heater: This is an element of protection against corrosion of your tank. It degrades slowly. It is changing every 5 years, sometimes 10 years if your water is not too hard.

* Water heater Security Group: your water heater security group is an essential organ since it ensures the safety of your home in case of overpressure of your tank. It maintains and changes easily.

Water heater problems: what works?

Usually, there is nothing else to provide than regular maintenance of your water heater. However, it is possible to occur a fault or failure. You can intervene without calling a plumber:

* Leaking water heater: It may happen that a leak occurs, if that is the case, where the leak is located determines the type of repair and possible solutions.

* Troubleshooting water heater: Renters and homeowners each have obligations when it comes to repair or maintain the water heater.

The prices of water heaters: according to the type of device

The prices of water heaters vary depending on the type of water heater selected, its capacity, its power. They start at about US$ 100 and can go up to US$ 3,500. Do not hesitate to call a professional to get a quotation, it will fully evaluate your needs and the cost of your installation.

Buy water heater: what criteria of choice? where to buy?

Buy your heater requires to ask you some questions such as the choice of energy, your domestic hot water, the configuration of your home and of course your budget. There are water heaters in large stores of crafts and specialty shops.

Find a heating engineer for your water heater

For your installation and maintenance of the water heater in your home, contact a plumber/heating engineer, both professions are often linked. Go through a heating engineer offers many guarantees.