Water Damage Causes: Water Heaters

Sources state that the estimated lifespan of any given common household storage water heater is anywhere from five to fifteen years. Per these assumptions, one could reasonably expect to incur 2 to 6 water heater related issues or replacements within the 30 year lifespan of a typical mortgage. Obviously, this a real yet commonly underestimated potential source of significant water damage.

Aging water heaters will rust and leak. If the property owner catches it in time then the potential for damage is minimal but if the property owner not discover the damage in time, the resulting damage can be substantial. In Florida, due to the high water table, basements are a rarity so heaters are typically located on the same floor as the living area thus maximizing the need to regularly inspect the water heater for wear and rust and resulting damage should a leak or breakage occur. Similarly, apartment and condominium dwellers, depending on the size of the unit, may have the water heater located in an area that is central to the unit thus maximizing the radius of the potential damage.

There are various things you can do the reduce this potential water damage risk. Common wisdom includes regular inspection for any water leakage, regular inspection for rust, turning off the main water source if you are going to be away from your property for an extended period of time, and having a relief valve installed on the water heater - assuming you do not already have one - in order to regularly remove the bottom sediment which promotes deterioration and oxidation. Before you embark on the later, however, and you do so at your own risk, be careful NOT to splash yourself with the potentially scalding water that is coming from the water heater and, similarly, be sure to have a pail stable enough to handle the hot water and hot sediment without breaching. Better yet, have a professional check it out for you.

In a perfect world water heaters never leak and all damage is caught in time or is minimal; unfortunately, in the real world, when the water heater breaks, it is reasonably sudden and the damage is extensive. Since most people do not turn off the water lead in when the leave, as it is not a common consideration most people would do on a regular basis, once breached, the water heater not only dumps the contents of its storage tank but the water continues to flow due to the open water line contributing to extensive water damage. Should this occur, then you owe it to yourself to hire an independent and customer focused water damage restoration company. Only an independent water damage restoration company focuses its interest on customer service and customer satisfaction so that your restoration is its interest and such company will do whatever it takes to restore your asset to its preloss condition.

Water Heater Price - How Much Should You Pay?

What is a reasonable water heater price? This isn't so easy to answer. Different units and models have large differences in their prices. Should you just base your decision on the price alone? Are there other factors besides the price that you should consider? Here are some tips for you to follow to find the best deals.

Read Reviews

Before anything else, you should read about water heaters first. Your objective would be not to become a heater expert but to at least get some basic information about heaters. Otherwise, nothing about heater specifications in various sites will make sense to you. Once you know a bit about heaters, your next step would be to go to review sites.

There are many different review sites. The ones you should check are the well-known independent review sites. Depending on the site you are on, you can get some information about various costs per model, installation costs and product reviews. These review sites are actually one stop sites where you can compare the prices and features. You can also benefit from various reviews from experts, amateurs and average consumers like you.

Consider Cost of Operation

There is more to a water heater price than the purchase cost. You may not know that a seemingly cheap heater may actually cost more in the long run. This is because it may cost a lot to operate it. You end up spending more than what you saved when you bought it. If you want to have long term savings on cost, then look for a unit with a high energy factor. This is found on the energy guide or label found on the unit. A high energy factor of around 0.8-2 would mean that the unit is efficient in using energy. This means less energy waste and cost for you.

Consider the Type

The oldest heater model is the tank type. You can now buy these for as low as $100. More expensive models are the tankless, heat pump and solar. The prices of these can range from $200 to over a thousand dollars. The more expensive ones however are usually the most energy efficient and can help you save in operational costs

One reason why tank types cost more to operate is because of standby losses. The tanks of tank type heaters are always filled with water. The water is kept warm even when it isn't used. Hot water that just sits in a tank results in energy loss which eventually translates to higher energy bills for you. The tankless type eliminates this problem by providing warm water only when you need it.

Conserve Energy

You may not be able to afford a more energy efficient heater model at this time. You can however still shave off a few dollars off your operational cost. You may for example install aerators and tank and pipe insulation. These will reduce the heat that is lost in the process of operating a tank-type heater. Aside from helping you limit costs, you are also conserving energy.

Finding the right water heater price may be a bit tricky. The real key is to learn more about how heaters work and use energy. Never pick a heater based on price alone.

Compare water heater price from different brands. Get the best water heater prices online. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ann_Triune

Reasons For Checking The Water Heater Ratings

Water heaters are a basic necessity for both residential dwellings as well as commercial establishments. There are a number of heating systems that are available in the market but they have to be chosen with care. There are many factors to consider such as the water heater ratings while selecting a new system for your home. The system should not only provide sufficient hot water to meet your daily requirement, but it must do so in an energy-efficient manner without costing you an arm and leg. Hence, you must consider the various types of water heaters that are available and determine the right size as well as the fuel source that would be required.


There are different types of water heaters that are available such as: Solar; Conventional storage; Tankless/demand/instantaneous; Tankless coil/indirect; and Heat pump home heaters.


Ratings are an essential component while choosing your water heating system because it will help you save a lot of money and cut down on energy consumption in the long run. Systems such as the solar water heating system are green, renewable resources and very energy efficient and will help save on electricity costs. However, a lot would depend on the selection criteria. While selecting the best model and type, you need to look at the following:


- Size - You must select the proper size to meet all your daily hot water requirements. By choosing the right size, you will receive a steady supply of hot water throughout the year and maximize the efficiency.

- Fuel type - The fuel type or energy source is another important factor. There are those that are gas fired and there are the ones that use the electric heating elements.

- Cost factor - The cost factor would depend on the availability of the fuel and the annual requirements and operational costs.


Energy Efficiency

Ratings will entirely depend upon the energy efficiency of the heating system that you use. Normally, the more energy-efficient systems are expensive as compared to the conventional systems. But the money you spend on energy efficient systems will not go in vain as you will save a lot on future operational costs and heating bills. However, in addition to this, it is imperative to consider the other critical factors as well while buying.


Life cycle costs, in addition to water heater ratings need to be taken into consideration while making your choice. Also, look for the energy star label with the energy factor (EF). If there is an existing gas line, then you can consider installing a gas or even a heat pump water heater. Choose a direct vented model with EF of 0.93. The AHRI database will be able to give you products by tank size and energy factors. Select the specifications before running your query.

Are Tankless Water Heaters A Good Purchase?

Tankless water heaters are quite widely used today. The truth is, regular heaters use up about 35% of your total energy costs, which is obviously a huge expense, and tankless systems are designed to save you money as well as be more efficient. When it comes to heating H20, there are two ways to do it-tanks or tankless systems. Tankless work by heating the water either via an electrical current, or natural gas, and the gas systems tend to be quicker, because they do not require the use of electricity. Either way, both are cheaper than their tank counterparts are, because you are just heating the amount of water you need.

With a tank system, you have to keep a certain amount of hot water on hand at all times, whether you need it or not. For this reason, there is a lower energy requirement than standard heating with tankless systems, and therefore your energy costs will be lower. There are two kinds of tankless systems, the whole house variety and the individual faucet kind. To install the latter kind, all you have to do to put them in is put fixtures on your faucets, which enables the liquid coming through the faucet to heat up at the point of attack. You have to put these same features everywhere that you require warm liquid, like the bathroom, mudroom, etc.

The other option is to simply get a whole house tankless system, which does not require you to put fixtures on your faucets. Instead, the liquid is simply heated when it first enters the house, and then is redirected to each individual outlet. Therefore, this option is better if you will need hot water at every faucet. Obviously, the whole house systems are pricier, because they require you to heat a larger amount of liquid. For this reason, if you only need hot H20 at certain outlets, you might want to opt for the individual faucet variety.

The best thing about tankless systems is that they can heat up as much liquid as you need, and therefore there is no limit. In other words, you will not have to worry about the hot water running out in the middle of your shower. On the other hand, this can cause energy costs to go up as well, if you use a lot of hot water. Therefore, if you do, you might want to consider tank systems to limit yourself.

In conclusion, tankless water heaters have a high rate of efficiency when compared their tank counterparts, because they limit waste. They only heat up the H20 you need, and nothing else. Before you buy one, just make sure you read reviews of the different residential systems, as this will help you find the best. Whether you opt for a GE tankless water heater or some small company, you have never heard of, reviews will help you find the best. Make sure you focus on finding a reliable heater, because the costs for replacement can be extremely high.

Tag : home,home improvement,Tankless,water heaters

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_E._Mcleod

House Upgrades - Best Bang For Your Buck

If you are looking to make some changes or upgrades to your home, you may be wondering which upgrades you can do that will net you the largest returns when it comes time to resell your home. Upgrades can significantly boost the value you of your home if they are the ones that home buyers desire the most. Here is a list of some a few things you can do that will give you the greatest returns on your investment in the future.

Countertops: If you have outdated or Formica countertops, its time to trade them out for something newer and more modern tops. Right now the hottest countertop surfaces are granite, marble, concrete and wood. Any of these tops will modernize your kitchen and bathrooms.

Flooring: Change out your outdated carpet for sleek, clean hardwood floors. Home buyers agree that hardwood floors are among their top ten must have home components. For new flooring, contact your NJ hardwood flooring experts to lay down a more modern version of your current floors.

Energy saving components: Installing energy saving components like a low flow shower head or new water heater is a great way to capitalize on the recent green movement. When it is time to sell your home, buyers will be looking for ways to save on energy costs as well as help the environment. Energy saving components in your home will also save you money, as well as netting you a great return on the money well spent to install them.

APC Hardwood Floors (http://apchardwoodfloors.com/) is a NJ hardwood flooring company. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Billings_Farnsworth

Fire Damage - Things You Need To Know Before They Happen

Forest fires destroy thousands of acres each year in the United States and do millions of dollars in damage. It seems as if we think it will never happen to us until it is to late to stop the flames from taking over our home. If you knew how to prevent a fire, would you take the steps necessary to save your home?

There are many ways that these flames could be prevented from over taking your home. If you have heavy brush around your home, this is like having a gallon of gasoline on all 4 corners of your property because when the wind blows on a brush fire, its heat is so intense it will spread with a fury and any brush that is anywhere close to your home will certainly put it in danger.

Most all of us have storage space around the house where we store every thing from gasoline for the lawnmower to oil for the car and many other products that are highly flammable. These types of flammable liquids should be stored in an area that is least likely to be in line of flames in the event of a wildfire. A good storage area for these products that would be the most safe is in a small metal building.

If you own a work shop or an area you use to work in, be sure you keep any thing that you might have spilled completely cleaned up. During the winter time, working in a shop area is usually when there is a kerosene heater or wood stove and any kind of spills on the floor can result in an unwanted fire.

There are a number of things inside our home that can produce a fire that could be prevented. The way we heat the inside of our home with different types of heaters whether it be kerosene, electric, or wood burning, there are several things to check before igniting these heaters. Using an electric heater you should check the cord to make sure it has not been cut or brittle from storage. If you have a fuel heater you need to check the wick and also the ignite button to be sure it is working properly. There are hundreds of ways a blaze can be started in or outside your home, but taking some time to think about all those little fire possibilities around your home can surely save you from a nasty blaze.

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