Water Heater West Virginia

A water heater is a device for heating and storing water. Heat is generated by gas, electric, or steam. In industrial usage, large water heaters are called boilers.

Tank heaters

In household and commercial usage, most water heaters are of the tank type. These consist of tanks in which a given amount of water is kept continuously hot and ready for use. Typical sizes for household use are 20 to 40 US gallons (75 to 150 L). These may run on electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, or other energy sources. The most popular in the United States is the natural gas type.

Tank-type water heaters can be made more efficient by installation of additional insulation jackets around the tank, flow valve devices at their inlet and outlet, cycle timers, electronic ignition (in the case of fuel-using models), sealed air intake systems (in the case of fuel-using models), and pipe insulation. The sealed air-intake system types are sometimes called "band-joist" intake units. "High efficiency" units can convert up to 98% of the energy in the fuel to heating the water. The exhaust gases of combustion are cool and are mechanically ventilated without the need of a chimney.

In British English, water heaters are known as boilers, or "Geysers" (pronounced "geezers"), feeding a separate hot water tank. Such tanks are often fitted with a backup electrical heater for a quick boost, known as an immersion heater. It is mandatory that these hot water storage vessels are 'indirect'. That means the water from the boiler circulates via a separate internal exchanger and does not come into contact with the stored hot water. (It is common for first time American users to burn themselves if not warned.)

Tankless heaters

Tankless water heaters, also called instantaneous, inline or instant-on water heaters, are also available and gaining in popularity. These water heaters heat the water as the water flows through the device, and do not retain any water internally except for what is in the pipe. Tankless heaters may be installed in at faucet or bathroom that is far from the central water heater or larger models can be used to provide hot water for the entire house.

Tankless heaters can be far more efficient than storage water heaters. In both kinds of installation, the absence of a tank saves energy as conventional water heaters have to reheat the water in the tank as it cools off. With a central water heater of any type, water is wasted waiting for water to heat up because of the cold water in the pipes between the faucet and the water heater.

Point of use tankless water heaters are located right where the water is being used, so the water is almost instantly hot, which saves water. They also save even more energy than centrally installed tankless water heaters because there is not any hot water being left in the pipes after the water is shut off. However, point of use tankless water heaters are usually used in combination with a central water heater, as the expense of buying a heater for every kitchen, laundry room, bathroom or sink, often outweighs the money saved in water and energy bills. In addition, point of use water heaters are almost always electrical, and electricity is far more expensive than propane and natural gas.

The most cost effective configuration is usually to use a central tankless water heater for the most of the house, preferably natural gas, and install a point of use tankless water heater at any distant faucets or bathrooms. However, this may vary according to how much electricity, gas and water costs in the area, the layout of the house and how much hot water is used. Only electric tankless water heaters were available at first and they are still used for almost all point of use heaters, but natural gas and propane heaters are now common.

Since the water must be heated instantly, the tankless water heaters use a lot of electricity or fuel while they are on. If a storage water heater is being replaced with a tankless one, the size of the electrical wire or gas pipeline may have to be increased to handle the load.

Solar heaters

In some locales, solar water heaters are used. These are installed outside dwellings, typically on the roof or nearby, and consist of a tank and of a panel in which water circulates. The tank and the panel are painted a dark color in order to maximize the reception of solar heat.

A gas water heater is nearly identical to an electric water heater, except that it does not contain the two heating elements, but instead has a gas burner at the bottom, with the chimney running up through the middle of the tank.

A water heater consists of the following parts, as shown in the figure above:

A heavy inner steel tank that holds the hot water

Typically, this tank holds 40 to 60 gallons. It has to be able to hold the pressure of a residential water system, which typically runs at 50 to 100 pounds per square inch (psi). The tank is tested to handle 300 psi. The steel tank normally has a bonded glass liner to keep rust out of the water.

Insulation surrounding the tank

A dip tube to let cold water into the tank

A pipe to let hot water out of the tank

A thermostat to control the temperature of the water inside the tank (Many electric water heaters have a separate thermostat on each element.)

Heating elements to heat the water (These are the thick electric elements similar to those you see inside an electric oven.)

A drain valve that allows you to drain the tank to replace the elements or move the tank

A pressure relief valve (This is an important safety feature that keeps the tank from exploding.)

A sacrificial anode rod to help keep the steel tank from corroding

A & M Service Center Heating & Air Conditioning

(323) 462-6500
450 S Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA